Gadani Ship Recycling Yards
Balochistan coast, 50 km northwest of Karachi, Pakistan · Pakistan · Founded 1947
- Plot count
- 132
- Capacity
- 1,000,000 LDT/year
- HKC compliance
- Pakistan has NOT ratified HKC. Sector regulated under Pakistan Ports Act + Balochistan Environmental Protection Act only.
- ISO 30000
- Not certified
- Typical vessels
- Mid-size tankers, bulkers, general cargo. Substantial LPG-carrier recycling business.
Overview
Gadani on the Balochistan coast north of Karachi hosts ~132 plots operated primarily by Pashtun and Punjabi labour on 3-6 month rotational contracts. Historically the world's largest recycling yard until Alang overtook it in the 1980s, Gadani has declined significantly in the past two decades as India + Bangladesh captured the majority of Asian recycling tonnage. Pakistan has not ratified the Hong Kong Convention and the sector operates under limited environmental oversight; the 2016 Aces oil-tanker explosion (26 dead) prompted a temporary shutdown but structural safety improvements have been incremental. For seafarers, Gadani appears less frequently as a final-voyage destination than Alang or Chittagong.
Safety
2016 Aces oil-tanker explosion killed 26 workers; sector-wide fatality rate remains among the highest. No HKC-Ready plots as of 2024.
Career pathway
Limited English-language career progression opportunity due to smaller HKC-compliance pipeline. Pakistan-flag deep-sea officers occasionally rotate through Gadani superintendent roles for coastal owners.