As the world’s population continues to grow and our demand for resources increases, it’s more important than ever to find sustainable ways to produce the products we rely on, argues Kajal Mishra, Marketing Assistant, Priya Blue Industries Pvt. Ltd.
The steel produced from ship recycling is referred to as “Green Steel” or can be regarded as a viable “raw material” for steel makers with net-zero emission goals because it is produced through a sustainable process of ship recycling.
Due to its negative stereotype, the ship recycling industry has been in the public eye for a long time, but it should be in the limelight for its contribution to environmental sustainability. No one acknowledges that the ship recycling industry has been producing green steel for decades. On a global basis since 2011, every year approximately 7 Million tonnes of metal scrap are produced by the ship recycling industry.
Since 1982, nearly 67 million tonnes of green steel have been obtained by recycling ships in India alone, enough to build 9077 Eiffel Towers and save 9 years of daily New York City power consumption, resulting in approximately 110.8 million tonnes of CO2 emission savings and also saving of other natural resources of earth.
When a ship approaches the end of its useful life or is no longer in service, it is dismantled for recycling. Diverse materials can be recovered and reused from these ships; in India, 97% of the ship’s materials are reused, whereas in other Asian subcontinents, 95% of the materials are reused and in Turkey and European yards, only 93% of the materials are reused because they do not have a secondary market for reusable materials like India.
These materials include steel, which is typically melted and repurposed for a variety of applications, including the production of coastal propelled/non propelled barges, heavy machinery, castings, appliances, and construction materials, among others things. This process reduces the demand for raw materials, such as iron ore, coal, and other elements like nickel, molybdenum, manganese, titanium, boron, cobalt, or vanadium which are used to produce new steel.
Green Steel is also cost-effective. The process of producing recycled steel is much more reasonable than producing new steel, which requires significant amounts of energy and resources. Therefore, by using recycled steel, manufacturers can reduce their production costs, making it a more attractive option.
The steel recovered from ships during the recycling process is of high quality and far more durable than conventional steel, even after many years of usage. Also, ship steel contains fine grains, which give it a high corrosion resistance. The ship recycling companies are highly specialized in their field, and they use cutting – edge technologies to dismantle ships without causing damage to the environment.
In conclusion, Green Steel produced from ship recycling is an excellent way to reduce the carbon footprint of the steel industry and promote sustainability. It is an eco-friendly, cost-effective, high-quality, and waste-reducing alternative to traditional steel production. So, the next time you come across Green Steel, remember that it is not just a buzzword but a reality that contributes to environmental sustainability.
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
