Ship Recycling

Ship recycling is a well-established practice for dealing with ships at the end of their operational life and, when conducted in a safe and environmentally sound manner, is widely regarded as the best and most practicable option.  The term “ship recycling” was introduced for the first time in 1999 at the first Global Ship Scrapping Summit and described as an efficient process.  This marked a shift in terminology from “ship demolition”, “ship breaking” or “ship scrapping” to emphasize the recycling of materials rather than just disposal.

Ship recycling makes a positive contribution to the global conservation of energy and resources and, in the process, employs a large workforce.  Properly handled, ship recycling is, without question, a green industry, and a true example of circular economy.  It results in almost all materials and equipment used in the manufacture of a ship being re-used in other forms, an outcome which is both environmentally sound and energy efficient. For instance, using recycled steel requires just one third of the energy used in the manufacture of steel from raw materials. 

However, while the principle of ship recycling is sound, the working practices and environmental standards in ship recycling facilities vary from yard to yard, and even from one country to another. It has been identified as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world and it is primarily known as a pollution-heavy industry. Ensuring the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships remains a global concern. While ultimate responsibility for conditions in the yards has to lie with the countries in which they are situated, other stakeholders must be encouraged to contribute towards minimising potential problems in the yards. 

Ship breaking has a long history dating back to wooden-hulled ships, when their timber was reused for other purposes after reaching the end of life of the ship. As shipbuilding advanced, iron and steel replaced wood and, after World War II, a vast amount of steel became available from redundant warships and cargo ships, which were mostly scrapped in the United Kingdom and United States. Much of this activity has migrated over several decades to countries broadly within Asia, where demand for the products of ship recycling to feed the building industry and other markets was high. In the 1960s, ship recycling first moved towards East Asia, particularly China and Japan. During the 1980s, driven by lower personnel costs, major ship breaking hubs started to emerge in South Asia, including Pakistan, and other coastal areas of India and Bangladesh. The shipping industry was slow to notice these developments. This is not surprising, as once the ship is set to be scrapped, the original owner is commonly unaware of its destination.