NGO Shipbreaking Platform has published its Annual Report for 2015.The report not only explains the difficulties of shipbreaking practices and the environmental or human risks that it has in store but also provides sustainable solutions on the problem.
Shipbreaking in South Asia is carried out on unprotected beaches where the vessels are broken down manually in the intertidal zone. The ships are ramped up onto the shore and grounded. Cutting down a vessel on a beach does not allow for safe working conditions and the full containment of pollutants, including prevention of leakages into the water and soil. In addition to toxic materials such as asbestos, PCBs, oil residues and organic waste, ships also contain heavy metals – including toxic paints. Debris and paint chips released during the cutting process and by the crashing of large parts onto the beach are absorbed by the sediments or washed out by the tidal water. Around all shipbreaking areas, the pollution and the uprooting of coastal vegetation, such as mangrove forests, have endangered the biodiversity of the coastal areas and affected the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Environmental concerns also persist where other methods of ship recycling are used. Both the so called ‘landing’ method used in Turkey and the demolition of vessels pier-side have to ensure that no pollutants are released into the sea and river water, in particular, slag and paint chips containing heavy metals and other toxins as well as oil and polluted water. Also in other ship recycling destinations, such as China and Turkey, hazardous downstream waste management needs to be fully transparent.
Shipbreaking has been declared the most dangerous job in the world by ILO.Explosions, falls from great heights and dropping steel parts injure or kill workers. The men also suffers from long-term health effects due to the exposure to toxic fumes and hazardous materials as well as harsh and unhealthy working and living conditions. The risk of contracting a fatal occupational disease at a shipbreaking yard, such as cancer and asbestosis, is high.
Sustainable solutions
Clean and safe methods of ship recycling are available. The most sophisticated method is to use a dry dock where a ship is recycled under similar conditions as when it was built: in a fully contained industrial platform with the help of cranes. This method is hardly used however, as it is the least profitable for ship owners. A cheaper and widely used method, for instance in China and Europe, is pier-side demolition where the ship is moored long-side at a quay, cut down from top to bottom, and heavy parts are lifted with the help of cranes. The canoe, the lower part of the hull, is then brought into a slipway and cut down on an impermeable surface. In all cases, strict environmental and safety procedures need to be employed to avoid any unnecessary risks. Towards the end of 2016, the European Commission will publish a list of approved ship recycling facilities: this list will provide ship owners and other stakeholders with a clear reference for sustainable solutions.
The report additionally provides:
- findings about global shipbreaking practices in 2015, including an overview of developments on the ground and statistics on the total number of ships dismantled in 2015
- activities and campaigns in 2015, including our policy campaign aimed at creating a legal framework that ensures the growth of clean and safe ship recycling globally
- corporate campaign calling upon ship owners, cargo owners, ship financers and recyclers to commit to sustainable ship recycling; and our work in the shipbreaking countries where there is a need for strengthened regulation and implementation of existing legislation to protect the workers and the environment
- wide outreach in the press and on social media
- latest organisational developments
Further details may be found by reading the report below
Source:NGO Shipbreaking Platform
