Shipping sustainability : ship recycling must be safe and environmentally friendly

Abstract

There has been a growing emphasis on green shipping practices in the maritime industry. The ship recycling sector contributes to sustainability in shipping as majority of the ship material can be recycled and reused in secondary markets. However, the ship dismantling process is relatively dangerous and there are many safety and environmental concerns that needs to be addressed. The method of ship recycling differs between countries depending on the level of economic development and infrastructure. There are various issues associated with ship dismantling, such as high accident rates at shipyards, pollution due to disposal of hazardous substances and health problems from toxic working environment. These issues are more pervasive in developing countries in the Indian Subcontinent that are less industrialised and rely heavily on manual labour. In order to raise the standards of ship recycling as a whole, it is crucial to adopt safe working practices, green ship recycling solutions and relevant technology. Existing ship recycling Conventions set guidelines and standards for the stakeholders involved and should be taken into serious consideration when implementing new solutions. This study seeks to explore current and potential solutions that could address the safety and environmental concerns in the ship recycling sector.Bachelor of Science (Maritime Studies