Image for representation purposes only Bahrain’s Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) and India’s Priya Blue Group have officially launched a joint venture facility, marked by the arrival of the first vessel for dismantling at the Bahrain yard. The project is described by the companies as the Middle East’s largest ship recycling facility. It brings together ASRY’s ship repair and fabrication infrastructure in Bahrain with Priya Blue’s established recycling operations in Alang, India. The aim is to create a large-scale, compliant recycling hub for ships and offshore assets in the Gulf region. The facility will handle both commercial vessels and offshore energy structures, including FPSOs, FSOs, drilling rigs, and other offshore installations. It will use dry dock, slipway, and alongside recycling methods and is designed to process very large ships, including ULCC-class vessels. The companies said the operation will follow international environmental standards, including the Hong Kong Convention and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, targeting shipowners looking for approved and environmentally safe recycling options. The identity of the first vessel sent to the Bahrain yard has not been disclosed. Priya Blue’s affiliated cash buyer, Best Oasis, will support the project by sourcing ships and managing their commercial purchase before they are sent for recycling in Bahrain. This is the first time a major Indian ship recycling company has expanded a large-scale operation outside South Asia. The move comes as global shipowners face increasing pressure to use environmentally compliant recycling facilities located closer to major shipping routes. Priya Blue said on social media that the project is a “planned expansion of an established business” and not an experimental project. The Bahrain facility will combine ship recycling with hazardous waste handling and environmental management systems in one setup. ASRY already has licences to handle and dispose of n