SADRA kicks off Persian Gulf sunken vessel recycling initiative
The chief executive of Iran Marine Industries Organization (SADRA) said the company had begun the process of recovering and recycling sunken vessels in the Persian Gulf as part of a broader initiative to develop the country's ship and offshore structure recycling industry.
Speaking at a ceremony on Saturday to sign a national contract for the removal of sunken vessels from the Persian Gulf, Manouchehr Alipour said SADRA’s board approved a comprehensive plan last year to enter the ship and offshore structure recycling industry.
"In the recycling industry, obsolete structures will be recycled in accordance with established procedures, which will certainly bring benefits such as reducing the consumption of mineral resources and preventing foreign currency outflows from the country," ISNA quoted him as saying.
Alipour said ship recycling had become a well-developed industry in many countries but had not expanded in Iran because of environmental requirements and concerns raised by the Department of Environment.
"The company intends to enter this field by using new technologies," he said, adding that the initiative was aimed at expanding the company's portfolio of products and services while creating a sustainable source of revenue.
He said the minimum benefit of the recycling industry would be reducing the use of mineral resources.
"This industry is aligned with the realization of the maritime-oriented economy, and establishing it is one of the key pillars of achieving that goal," Alipour said.
He said the project would also help prevent foreign currency outflows, create jobs and support the development of the Makoran coasts.
"The preliminary site for this industry has been selected on the Makoran coasts, and its implementation can contribute to the region's development, improve the welfare of local residents and enhance the country's economy," he said.
Alipour said the company was seeking to move from a linear economy to a circular economy.
"In a linear economy, raw materials are turned into products, used and ultimately discarded. In a circular economy, the goal is for every marine product to enter the recycling cycle once it reaches the end of its operational life," he said.