Drydocks World Completes One of the UAE's Most Complex Green Ship Recycling Projects

DUBAI — Drydocks World has completed a major ship recycling project for APT Global Marine, recovering more than 20,000 tonnes of steel, machinery and other materials for sustainable reuse at its facility in Dubai. The project marks a significant milestone in efforts to position the UAE as a regional hub for responsible ship recycling and sustainable maritime services.

A Complex Dismantling Operation

Described as one of the most complex ship recycling projects undertaken in the region, the operation involved the dismantling and recycling of an Aframax vessel that arrived with extensive fire damage. The ship carried more than 1,000 tonnes of hardened cargo residues alongside approximately 2,500 tonnes of fuel oil residue, conditions that required detailed engineering assessments, environmental controls, and specialised dismantling procedures throughout the operation.

Completed over a 120-day period, the project saw Drydocks World safely remove and process approximately 14,500 tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, along with around 3,500 tonnes of machinery, piping and cables, in addition to clearing hazardous materials and hydrocarbon residues.

Advancing a Circular Economy

Capt. Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World, said the project demonstrated the advanced engineering, safety and environmental capabilities that exist in Dubai and the UAE to support responsible green ship recycling at scale, while supporting sustainable industrial growth.

"Recovering more than 20,000 tonnes of material through a single project also demonstrates the important role ship recycling can play in advancing a circular economy within the maritime sector," Antolovic said. "As vessels reach the end of their operational life, the industry has a responsibility to ensure valuable resources are recovered safely, efficiently and with the highest environmental standards."

Building a Regional Recycling Hub

The project builds on Drydocks World's approval as a compliant green ship recycling facility under the UAE Ship Recycling Regulation, and strengthens its ambition to expand its presence in the growing global ship recycling market. It brought together specialist expertise across logistics, engineering, project management and recycling operations, reflecting the UAE's growing capabilities in sustainable end-of-life vessel management.

The milestone comes as the UAE moves to establish itself in an industry long dominated by South Asian nations. Bangladesh remains the world's biggest ship-recycling nation, handling roughly 140 to 150 ships a year, followed by India and Pakistan. The last known ship recycled in the UAE before the sector's recent revival was a 500-tonne barge dismantled at Ras Al Khaimah in 2021, underscoring how nascent the country's green recycling ambitions are.

The project forms part of Drydocks World's broader circular economy strategy, which focuses on maximising resource efficiency across its operations and project portfolio. The company, part of DP World, has also co-founded the Global Green Shipyard Alliance, an international coalition of leading shipyards committed to accelerating the maritime industry's sustainability transition. As increasing numbers of vessels approach the end of their operational lives and environmental regulations evolve, demand for responsible ship recycling solutions is expected to grow worldwide.