A cruise ship graveyard, otherwise known as a ‘ship cemetery’, is an area where decommissioned ships are sent to be permanently disposed of. The ships are usually sent to the graveyard when they have reached the end of their useful life, or due to safety regulations. In most cases, they are also sent there because they are no longer economically viable for passenger service.
Cruise ship graveyards can be found in many parts of the world, with some of the most well-known located in India, Turkey, and Bangladesh. The ships that end up in these graveyards are usually large vessels such as luxury liners and container ships. They can range from 400ft long to over 1,000ft long and may weigh upwards of 100,000 tons.
The process of decommissioning a cruise ship starts with its owners submitting an application for disposal to a governing body such as the United States Maritime Administration or the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Once approved, the vessel will then be towed or sailed to its final resting place – typically a remote location where it can be disposed of safely and out of sight from public view.
At the graveyard, salvage companies will strip down any reusable parts from the ship before it is scuttled (sunk) or broken up into smaller pieces for disposal elsewhere. This process ensures that hazardous materials on board such as asbestos and fuel are removed safely before being recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.
The fate of cruise ships once they reach their final destination is often a sad one; however, these wrecks provide a unique opportunity for maritime historians to study and document their history. In addition to this, some cruise ships have been turned into artificial reefs which provide habitats for marine life and attract scuba divers from around the world.
In conclusion, cruise ship graveyards provide an important service by disposing of decommissioned vessels in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. They also provide insight into maritime history as well as create unique habitats for marine life that attract divers from all over the world.
What’s a Cruise Ship Graveyard?
A cruise ship graveyard is an area where decommissioned ships – such as luxury liners and container ships – are sent to be permanently disposed of when they have reached the end of their useful life or due to safety regulations. Salvage companies at these sites will strip down any reusable parts before disposing of them in an environmentally friendly manner while providing valuable insight into maritime history.