Ship-Breaking in the Global South

My little brother is fascinated by boats. He has shown me images of the incredible ship-breaking that occurs along the coast of Chittagong, Bangladesh. One of the course readings for this week included a picture of the dangerous ship-breaking that happens along this beach and it spurred me to do some research about this important environmental issue. Below is a youtube video which provides some idea of what working conditions are like at the Chittagong ship-breaking yards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxUGONR9pQw
Well worth watching!



Fast Facts about Ship-Breaking Yards in the Global South
Alang, India: Prior to ship-breaking becoming big business here, the beaches were pristine. However it is estimated that almost half of all ships dismantled around the world end up here.
Chittagong, Bangladesh: This 16 mile stretch of once pristine beach is home to over 20 ship-breaking yards.
Gadani, Pakistan: There are 132 ship-breaking plots along this stretch of beach. While it was once the largest ship-breaking facility in the world, it has seen a reduction in the number of ships it receives as some are now sent elsewhere.

As a result of the economic downturn in recent years, the ship-breaking industry is thriving as companies are selling their vessels for parts. Estimates are that 90% of all the ship-breaking taking place around the world happens in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This booming industry is benefiting from the economic downturn in recent years. Many companies are in the process of reducing their fleet of ships and they end up being sold for scrap and subsequently dismantled. A 60 Minutes piece I found provided a basic understanding of the ship-breaking industry in Bangladesh. Thousands of men and children work in these dangerous ship yards dismantling massive ships by hand. While ship-breaking in the Global North tends to be done in dry docks or dismantling slips, in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, ship-breaking happens on once-pristine beaches. Ships are beached at high tide and are then dismantled. The steel from these ships is a crucial source of steel used in the construction industry. While it is great that all of the components of these ships is salvaged and resold, the materials that cannot be recycled include asbestos and mercury which are damaging to the natural environment. As is the case with many industries in the Global South, safety is not a top priority with many workers being injured or killed on the job. Explosions are common when blow torches are used in the hulls of ships. No safety equipment like hart hats or safety boots are used.
There is increasing concern about the environmental impact of this industry and legislation is in the works to reduce the environmental impact of this necessary industry. The UN International Maritime Organization is currently trying to implement regulations requiring the registration of dangerous substances on ships and creating recycling plans for the ships. If approved, ships destined for scrapping would be inspected prior to being sent to be dismantled. Bangladesh has already made steps to reduce the environmental damage of ship-breaking by ruling that this process needs to be more environmentally friendly. One of the ship-yard owners interviewed claimed that if strict environmental policies were implemented, ship-breaking would cease in East Asia as the industry could not adapt.
This issue presents a common problem between an industry that provides needed steel and other goods to countries and the environmental damage of current practices. It is advantageous for companies to sell their ships to one of the companies operating in the Global South because the ship owners do not have to pay for the dismantling of their ships, as they would if the process was carried out in North America or Europe. While it is great that these ships are recycled and the materials are reused instead of extracting more raw materials from the earth, the environmental catastrophe that is happening is of great concern. The oil and other toxic materials are leaking into the ocean and are contaminating the coast line. Many of these ship yards were once pristine pieces of coastline but due to the economic activity taking place, they are now highly contaminated.
Beyond the concerns for the natural environment, there are concerns about the human toll this economic activity is having. Thousands of men and teenage boys work under dangerous conditions daily for $1 a day dismantling these massive ships with hand tools and virtually no safety equipment. There are no accurate figures to indicate how many accidents occur each year, however based on photos and what available data there is, the number of people who are injured or killed on the job is significant. Contrary to the owner interviewed in the 60 Minutes segment, I don't believe that making the industry safer for employees and reducing the environmental damage associated with dismantling ships would decimate the industry. Ensuring harmful substances are removed and stored safely so they do not end up in the ocean or contaminating the coast line should not be impossible. Ensuring that workers are provided with some sort of safety device to reduce the possibility of explosions while using blow-torches or hard-hats while working could be implemented.
Is it truly impossible for these companies to reduce their environmental impact and provide a safer working environment for their workers?