Ship Breaking Product Market
About Ship Breaking Product Market
When a ship is broken up on the Sitakunda coast, almost nothing goes to waste. Furniture, fittings and equipment are stripped out before the steel is cut, and much of it ends up in the long row of shops and warehouses along the Dhaka to Chittagong highway near the yards.
Browsing is half treasure hunt, half industrial museum. You may find brass portholes, ship’s lamps, compasses and clocks next to life jackets, galley pots, cabin chairs, washing machines and huge engine parts. Some shops specialise in furniture or crockery, others in generators, ropes or electrical goods, and stock changes with every ship.
Unlike the Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard itself, the market is open to the public, so it is the easiest way to get a feel for the industry. Evergreen Bangladesh Tours stops here on private tours around Chittagong with a local guide who can help you chat with the shopkeepers.
Things to do
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Hunt for maritime souvenirs
Look for small pieces such as lamps, bells, compasses or clocks that fit in a suitcase.
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See the scale of the salvage
Warehouses stacked with engines, chains and ropes show how much comes out of a single ship.
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Photograph the shops
The piles of portholes, life rings and furniture make unusual pictures; ask the owners first.
Getting there
From central Chittagong: about one to one and a half hours north by car on the Dhaka to Chittagong highway.
From Dhaka: the shops are on the main highway, so they are easy to stop at on the way to or from Chittagong.
Where to stay
Most visitors stay in central Chittagong and stop here on a half-day trip north.
Tours that visit Ship Breaking Product Market
Short Tours
Chittagong Heritage & Local Life Tour
from $200 per person
Questions
Is the market open to tourists?
Yes. The shops are ordinary businesses along the highway and visitors are welcome to browse.
What can I buy?
Anything from ship’s lamps, clocks and compasses to furniture, crockery and machinery. Stock depends on recent ships.
Can I take large items home?
It is difficult. Shipping is expensive and some antiques may need checks before export, so most travellers buy small pieces.
How long should I allow?
About an hour to browse a few shops.