Dubai completes one of UAE’s most complex green ship recycling operations
Project recovered steel, machinery and materials for sustainable reuse
DUBAI – Drydocks World has completed one of the UAE’s most complex green ship recycling projects, recovering more than 20,000 tonnes of steel, machinery and other materials for sustainable reuse from an Aframax vessel at its Dubai facility.
The operation, carried out for APT Global Marine, marks a significant step in strengthening the UAE’s position as a regional hub for responsible ship recycling. It also highlights the growing role of sustainable end-of-life vessel management in supporting the maritime industry's circular economy.
Complex challenge
The project involved dismantling and recycling an Aframax vessel that arrived with extensive fire damage, presenting a series of technical and environmental challenges. Engineers also had to manage more than 1,000 tonnes of hardened cargo residues and approximately 2,500 tonnes of fuel oil residue.
These conditions required detailed engineering assessments, strict environmental controls and specialised dismantling procedures throughout the operation to ensure safety and compliance.
Material recovery
Completed over a 120-day period, the project saw Drydocks World safely remove and process around 14,500 tonnes of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. A further 3,500 tonnes of machinery, piping and cables were recovered, while hazardous materials and hydrocarbon residues were treated through specialist handling processes.
Capt Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World, said the successful completion of the project demonstrated the advanced engineering, safety and environmental capabilities available in Dubai and across the UAE to support responsible green ship recycling on a large scale while contributing to sustainable industrial growth.
He added that recovering more than 20,000 tonnes of material from a single vessel highlighted the important role ship recycling can play in advancing a circular economy within the maritime sector. According to Antolovic, as vessels reach the end of their operational lives, the industry has a responsibility to recover valuable resources safely, efficiently and in line with the highest environmental standards.
Growing capacity
The project builds on Drydocks World's approval as a compliant green ship recycling facility under the UAE Ship Recycling Regulation and supports its ambition to expand its presence in the growing global ship recycling market.
It also brought together specialist expertise across logistics, engineering, project management and recycling operations. With increasing numbers of vessels approaching the end of their service lives and environmental regulations continuing to evolve, demand for responsible ship recycling solutions is expected to rise globally. The project forms part of Drydocks World's broader circular economy strategy, which focuses on maximising resource efficiency across its operations and project portfolio.