Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard
About Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard
Along the coast at Sitakunda, north of Chittagong, old tankers, container ships and cargo vessels are driven onto the mudflats at high tide and then cut apart piece by piece. It is one of the largest ship-breaking areas in the world, and much of the steel used in Bangladesh’s construction comes from here.
It is an extraordinary and sobering sight: hulls taller than houses lying on the beach, and workers with cutting torches and ropes doing dangerous work with little machinery. The industry has been widely criticised for its safety record and its impact on the coast, and a visit is a chance to understand both sides of it.
Please set your expectations: the yards are private industrial sites and access is restricted. Permission to enter is rarely given to visitors, and photography is often unwelcome. On our private tours we view what can be seen respectfully from public roads and nearby areas, and combine it with the open Ship Breaking Product Market along the highway, where salvaged ship parts are sold.
Things to do
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See the beached ships
Where it is allowed, look across to the huge hulls on the shore from public areas.
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Understand the industry
Your guide explains how ships are broken, where the steel goes and the debate over workers’ safety.
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Visit the salvage market
Browse the roadside shops selling furniture, lamps and fittings taken from the ships.
Getting there
From central Chittagong: about one to one and a half hours north by car on the Dhaka to Chittagong highway, depending on traffic.
From Dhaka: the yards lie on the main highway, so they can be seen on the way into or out of Chittagong.
Where to stay
Stay in central Chittagong and visit on a half-day trip, or combine it with the hills and waterfalls around Sitakunda.
Tours that visit Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard
Short Tours
Chittagong Heritage & Local Life Tour
from $200 per person
Questions
Can I visit the ship-breaking yards?
Access is restricted and permission is rarely given to visitors. Most travellers see the area from public roads and visit the nearby salvage market instead.
Can I take photographs?
Only where it is clearly allowed. Ask your guide, never photograph workers without consent and do not use drones.
How far is it from Chittagong city?
The yards line the coast at Sitakunda, about one to one and a half hours north of the city centre by car.
Is it suitable for children?
The industrial setting can be distressing and is not designed for visitors, so we suggest it for adults with a real interest in the subject.