Graveyard of Ships - Current Situation and Future of Sad Dismantling Yards
Destination for ships that have reached the end of their life
The life of a ship is about 20 years. Some ships are scrapped after 10 years, while others are still in operation after 50 years, but in many cases the strength is calculated with an assumed service life of 20 years. Ships that have reached the end of their life are dismantled and transported to the dismantling yard. The main demolition yards are located on tidal coasts such as Gujarat, India and Chittagong, Bangladesh. The boat is beached at full speed at high tide and left alone. Then when the tide goes out, you can start dismantling. (This method is called the "beaching method." Of course, there are countries where the demolition yards are properly maintained.
Chittagong, Bangladesh
The Sad State of the Ship Graveyard
at-risk workers, child labor and environmental pollution
The actual situation in this demolition yard is very problematic and is flooded with criticism from all over the world. Especially the demolition yards in Bangladesh. Far from not wearing a helmet, they are dismantling with bare hands and bare feet, and demolition tools that look like they're made from scrap metal. Moreover, even small children are working in such an environment.
When dismantling a large iron block, holes are drilled here and there or cut with a burner, and chains are inserted through the gaps, which are then pulled down by a truck or by hand. Then, it may fall to an unintended part, or the lump of iron may be blown away, and workers often lose limbs or die. In addition, the ships contain substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls, organic tin, mercury, lead, and asbestos, which are toxic to the human body and the environment. They are also exposed to health hazards.
As for child labor, it seems that there are many cases where the fathers, grandmothers, and everyone else are working, so they follow along, rather than the employer taking the child out to play. There are many areas, and there are many families who cannot afford to pay the money to spend on education. In such a situation, there is no option not to face the child, and it is natural to face it in order to protect the family budget. In addition, scrap iron and other scraps generated when dismantled are temporary important resources for the country.
Adoption of the Hong Kong International Convention (Ship Recycling Convention)
In response to this situation, various international organizations have started to move.
The Basel Convention has added guidelines for considering the environment and health when dismantling ships. The ILO (International Labor Organization) has also adopted guidelines on shipbreaking to protect workers from hazardous environments.
In particular, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) adopted the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (commonly known as the Ship Recycling Convention), which states the following:
All ships of 500 international gross tonnages and above shall prepare, maintain and manage a list stating the approximate amount and location of hazardous substances, etc. present on board.
Ships may only be dismantled and recycled at a Ship Recycling Facility approved by the competent authority.