The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan to upgrade the existing infrastructure at Asia's largest ship dismantling yard at Alang in Bhavnagar district.

GMB, which operates and regulates ports in the state, seeks technology transfer and financial assistance to upgrade the yard at Alang to the international standards.

"We will undertake modernisation and mechanisation of the ship dismantling works at Alang yard, which we want to make IMO (International Maritime Organisation) complied ship recycling yard in the world," a senior official of GMB said.

The MoU also includes construction and operation of a common hazardous waste removal pre-treatment facility, modernisation of recyclable goods market and development of human resources.

Japan External Trade organisation and Japan Development Institute will carry out a feasibility study of the existing set up at the yard and suggest various ways and methods of upgrade, the official said.

"The project will be completed by 2012-13 and subsequently we will be getting ships from Japan for dismantling," he said, adding, "Japan owns more than 15 per cent ships in the world."