ASRY and Priya Blue unveil Bahrain ship recycling venture at ADIPEC

Bahrain’s Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Company (ASRY) and India’s Priya Blue Group have unveiled the brand of their joint venture, ASRY Green Ship Recycling, at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2026. Announced by ASRY on 9 November, the branding follows the venture’s operational launch in May, when the first vessel arrived in Bahrain for dismantling. The partners aim to serve shipowners and offshore operators looking to recycle assets in the Arabian Gulf.

What ships and offshore assets can the Bahrain yard recycle?

ASRY says the facility can dismantle vessels up to the size of an ultra-large crude carrier (ULCC) using its dry dock, slipways or alongside berths. It can also receive rigs and other offshore structures directly at berth. The scope includes floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) and floating storage and offloading units (FSOs).

Offshore production assets can contain residues from production fluids that require specialist handling. ASRY says the yard holds licences covering the handling, storage, treatment, export and disposal of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste. The venture also provides heavy-lift capacity, manages hazardous waste and prepares compliance documentation for recycling projects.

What roles do ASRY, Priya Blue and Best Oasis play?

ASRY provides the yard infrastructure in Bahrain, while Priya Blue brings three decades of ship recycling experience from India. Priya Blue chairman Sanjay Mehta said the group had recycled more than 100 complex vessels at Alang, Gujarat. For ASRY, the partnership extends its work on ships and offshore assets from repair and maintenance to end-of-life dismantling. 2026

Best Oasis is the venture’s commercial and vessel acquisition partner. It sources ships and offshore assets and manages the purchase of vessels destined for the Bahrain yard. The arrangement gives the venture a commercial route to secure tonnage alongside the partners’ dismantling and waste management capabilities.

Which rules govern ship recycling?

ASRY says the venture operates in line with the principles of the Hong Kong Convention and the European Union (EU) Ship Recycling Regulation. The Hong Kong Convention, developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), entered into force on 26 June 2025. It sets requirements for preparing ships for recycling and authorising facilities. Ships covered by the convention must carry an inventory of hazardous materials before recycling, and yards must prepare a plan for each ship they dismantle.

The EU regulation has a separate approval process. Large seagoing vessels flying an EU member state flag must use a facility on the European List of ship recycling facilities. Yards outside the EU seeking to recycle those ships must apply to the European Commission for inclusion.

FAQs

When did ASRY and Priya Blue begin ship recycling operations in Bahrain?

ASRY announced the operational launch on 19 May 2026 after the first vessel arrived for recycling. The partners unveiled the venture’s brand at ADIPEC later that year.

Can the Bahrain facility recycle offshore production units and rigs?

Yes. ASRY says the facility can handle FPSOs, FSOs, rigs and other offshore structures. It can receive rigs directly at berth and holds licences for handling waste containing naturally occurring radioactive material.