Priya Blue Group Sets Its Second Guinness World Record by Recycling the Largest Fish Factory Vessel Ever Built

Alang, India -January 2026: Priya Blue has secured a Guinness World Records title after completing the recycling of MV Divo, officially confirmed as the largest fish factory vessel ever built by lightweight tonnage. The project was concluded on 08 January 2026 at Priya Blue Recycling LLP (Plot No. 169 M), Alang Ship Recycling Yard, Gujarat.

The vessel, formerly known as Vladivostok 2000 / Damanzaihao, carrieda lightweight of 26,136.06 metric tonnes. Recognised as the world’s largest fish factory mothership, it measured 49,367 GT andoperated as a fully integrated floating processing platform - receiving catch from other vessels while freezing, storing, processing, and transferringseafood entirely at sea.

At full capacity, the vessel could process up to 547 tonnes of fish per day, among the highest daily through puts recorded for an industrial fishing vessel, and upto 547,000 tonnes annually, placing it among the most significant platforms of its kind. It also included 6,200 tonnes of frozen storage, allowing for extended offshore operations.

In addition, the ship could produce up to 200 tonnes of fish meal and 50 tonnes offish oil per day, supporting global food and feed supply chains. Operations were maintained by a crew of approximately 180 personnel working in continuous shifts.

Designed for endurance as well as output, the vessel carried 6,529.42 tonnes of diesel fuel, and 1,422.92 tonnes of lubes, allowing deployment at sea for up to six months without refuelling. Its dismantling therefore represents not only a record-setting recycling achievement, but a rare milestone in the history of large-scale maritime industrial decommissioning.

A record that proves real scale

The dismantling of highly specialised fish factory vessels is among the most technically demanding segments of global ship recycling, requiring heavy-lift capability, controlled cutting, hazardous material management, and rigorous safety and environmental compliance. With MV Divo, Priya Blue Group demonstrates the infrastructure and systems needed to recycle complex, high-lightweight tonnage responsibly.

As regulatory focus intensifies with the wider enforcement of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), achievements such as this highlight the increasingly critical role of compliant South Asian recycling facilities in the global circular maritime economy.

Priya Blue Industries has been HKC certified since 2015 - 10 years ahead of ratification, putting it among the earliest yards globally to adopt convention-level ship recycling standards. Based in Alang, Priya Blue Group operates India’s largest sustainable ship recycling facility, built for the safe dismantling of large, complex tonnage. Key assets include a 510-metre seafront,impermeable work surfaces, an effective drainage system, and oxygen and PNG pipelines, enabling the complete elimination of compressed gas cylinders. Operations are supported by heavy-lift capability, including some of the largest ship-recycling cranes, and experienced,well-trained staff.

Worker welfare is integral: on-site accommodation has been provided since 1994, and Priya Blue City houses 1,000+ personnel with comprehensive amenities supporting safe and controlled ship recycling operations.

The Bigger Picture

The recycling of MV Divo comes at a time when regulatory and commercial pressure is reshaping end-of-life decisions for shipowners. As HKC compliance and EU-aligned pathways gain momentum, projects of this complexity highlight how facilities with verified systems, infrastructure, and transparency can help set the direction for responsible ship recycling.

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