SHIP RECYCLING ACTIVITIES

INDIAN SCENARIO

rora.janhit@gmail.com
 INTRODUCTION…
 The life cycle for most ships lasts some
20-25 years, from the building yard,
through many years of operation, till
final disposal. At this time, the question
is; what to do with the ship?


 There are few alternatives at the end of

the ship’s life:


q Conversion to other uses presents only a

limited number of alternatives; such
as storage facilities, breakwaters or
tourist attractions.
q
q Scuttling has been proposed, but it
is strictly controlled by the
London Dumping Convention.
q
q So, recycling at the breaker’s yard is
clearly the best option.

 MEANING…

q Ship recycling is the process

of dismantling an obsolete
vessel’s structure for
recycling or disposal
whether conducted at a
beach, a pier, a dry dock
or a dismantling slip.
q
q Ship recycling is a well-
established industry,
taking care of the
disposal of a large
majority of the world’s
older ships at the end of
their useful life. Every
year it handles about 3%
of the world’s fleet.

IMPORTANCE…

q Ship-recycling industry serves the shipping

industry by helping them to gain
financial value of their zero-value
vessels.
q
q Ship-recycling industry reduces maritime
burden of handling such incapable vessels.


q Ship-recycling industry serves the society

by providing employment opportunity to
thousands to workers hailing from various
states of the country.
q
q Ship recycling offers a large possibility to
reuse significant parts and equipment of
the ships. For example, every part of the
hull and machinery can be reused. Ships’
generators, pumps, furniture and other
equipment may be reused ashore.
MOST COMMON LOCATIONS…

q The industry is predominantly located

in low- labour-cost countries with
large manpower pools.
q
q The main players are India,
Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, with
lesser roles taken by Turkey and
others.

 COMMERCIAL SHIP DISPOSAL PROCESS

Ship Owner Decides to Sell a Ship

Ship Broker Employed to Dispose of Ship

Ship Sold to a Cash Buyer Intermediary

Ship Recycler Purchases the S

COND…
 Contribution in Ship breaking

q ship breaking is mainly centered

in the Indian subcontinent.
India, Bangladesh and Pakistan
together with China
constitute more than 94% in
tonnage (dwt).

Myths vs. Facts - Ship Recycling in In
q Myth # 1 : One death a day !
q Fact : 10 casualties in two year

 Total casualties of workers in 2004-2005
and 2005-2006 amount to three and seven
(five due to fire onboard one vessel)
respectively.


q Myth # 2 : Ship recycling in India is

unlicensed and uncertified , still
locked in rudimentary methods of
25 years ago.
q Fact : Today , 22 recycling yards at
Alang are ISO 14001 and OHSAS
18001 compliant(a Quality Systems and
Environmental and Safety Accreditation).
q
 Additionally, four yards are ISO 9001
compliant.
 there are more than 10 regulatory and
licensing bodies that monitor ship-
recycling activities at Alang.
 Myth # 3 : “ Half - naked ” workers , who work barehanded ,
Ship - recycling in India.
Fact: See Pictures.
Myths vs. Facts - Ship Recycling in
India

q Myth # 4 : Green ship recycling and India are

mutually exclusive .
q The fact is that most of the ISO certified yards at
Alang are capable of green ship recycling. GMB has
invested millions of rupees to create facilities for
the safe disposal of hazardous waste generated from
ship recycling activities.
q
q
q Myth # 5 : Ship owners do not sell their vessels
directly to ship recyclers in India with the
intention to “ escape ” their legal
responsibilities .
q Fact : The vast majority of ships sold for recycling
today are sold via “cash buyers”. Cash buyers are
NOT brokers. They are traders. They buy ships on
their account and then resell these to the ship
recyclers. Like a wholesaler or a distributor of
goods in traditional industries.
Myths vs. Facts - Ship Recycling in In

q Myth # 6 : A ship earmarked for scrapping is a

liability .
q Fact : Vessels are sold today for scrap, often at twice
the price at which the ship may have been bought by
the current owners 6-7 years ago! The average scrap
price of a Suezmax tanker in the Indian subcontinent
is about USD 10 million.
q
q
q Myth # 7 : The media does a fair and balanced
reporting on ship recycling.
q Facts : Very aggressive, well funded and media savvy
green lobby.


BRIEF HISTORY OF SHIP REECYCLING IN
THE INDIAN SUB CONTINENT

q Spanning a little over three decades, the first recorded

ship-recycling event can be traced back to Chittagong
(Bangladesh ) when a 20,000 DWT vessel was driven ashore
by the devastating tidal bore of 1965. Seven years
later, beginning 1972, ship-recycling activities in
Chittagong commenced on a regular basis. It was during
this time that Pakistan is believed to have scrapped 2
– 3 ships as well.
q
q India was the last to jump on to the ship recycling
bandwagon. Prior to 1979, ship-recycling activities
were limited to recycling barges and small sized
vessels.
q
q However during the 1980s, the importance of ship
recycling, as a potential source of raw material for
the domestic steel industry increased and the Indian
Government began evaluating potential ship recycling
ALANG-the recycling hub
qAlang is a town in Bhavnagar district in
the Indian state of Gujarat, India. It is
the leading centre of the worldwide ship
breaking and recycling industry.
q
qThe shipyards at Alang recycle
approximately half of all ships salvaged
around the world. The yards are located on
the Gulf of Khambat, 50 kilometres
southeast of Bhavnagar.
q
qThere are 173 plots to carry out the
ship-recycling activities. This activity
forms an industry by itself, as it provides
around 30,000 jobs in Alang itself.
Geographical Advantages of Alang…
q Alang has a very high inter-tidal gradient.
This enables the ship to beach right at
the shore during high tide and when the
tide recedes the ship stands almost at a
dry-dock.
q
q Due to high tidal gradient, larger ships
can come straight into the shore. This
reduces the total working time on each
ship.

q The rainfall is mild and work can be

carried out throughout the year.

q Since Alang is sheltered from high

velocity winds or excessive humid
conditions, ship recycling is a
perennial activity and safe.
q
q There is a layer of hard rock just beneath
the sand and this prevents rainwater and
even seawater from seeping into the
Infrastructure at Alang…
q Two major RCC bridges having two-lane width are constructed
across the river "Manari" and "Pashvivali", to facilitate
movement along the service road.
q Construction of permanent water supply pipelines for the work
place is almost complete.
q
q Lighting arrangements at the work sites have been improved as a
measure to enhancing safety.  
q
q The training Institute at Alang has been conducting awareness
training for the workers.  
q
q
For emergency treatment, a Red Cross Hospital is operational
at Alang. Ship-recyclers have contributed about Rs. 80 lacs
for the welfare of the workers. A specialized hospital
building with 25 beds is also constructed out of the above
fund collected from ship-recyclers.
q Satisfactory fire-fighting facilities are provided. It is
heartening to note that fire incidents are now rare.

 SAFETY MEASURES…


q Workers are regularly sent to the training centre for safety

education.
q
q Emergency treatment is provided by Red Cross Hospital.
q
q Regular medical checkup camps are arranged by Ship-recyclers
in co-ordination with GMB.
q
q Health awareness camps are organized on regular basis.
q
q Special workers are trained for handling of hazardous waste like
asbestos.
q
q Hoardings and slogans in local languages are displayed at
various corners of the plot premises to keep reminding the
workers regarding the safety.
q Safety audit is conducted jointly by GMB and ship recycling
industries association.


q
q Life buoys are kept on board the vessel during its recycling for
emergency exit to the sea incase of fire.
Types of wastes produced…
Hazardous Waste


q USED / WASTE OIL

q CONTAMINATED SAND WITH
OIL
q ASBESTOS
q PAINT CHIPS
q CABLES
q BATTERIES
q
Non-Hazardous Waste


q Glass wool and insulating

material
q Thermocol
q PVC/Rubber wire-tubes
q Ceramic/glass and Solidified
cement
q Kitchen waste



Handling of recycling wastes…
q Ship-recyclers provide on-site collection, storage facility
for the storage of waste.
q Ship-recyclers maintain the records of waste generation,
storage, treatment and disposal.
q The workers are provided with PPE’s when they collect the
waste generated from the vessel.
q Plot holders display all the information of waste generated
on the board outside the plot premises.
q Oil obtained from ships is sold to registered traders. The
residue is collected and sent to the TSDF site at Alang.
q A substantial portion of cable retrieved from vessels is
sold to as it is for re-use purpose.
q Glasswool, thermocol, kitchen waste and other waste collected
from the vessel is sent to TSDF at Alang.
q Water pumps are arranged at plot and on board the vessel for
pre-caution.

 Ship Recycling Industries
Association (India)

 It is an organization
established for the welfare
of ship recycling activity
in India. It safeguards the
rights of its member ship
recyclers and ensures safe
and eco-friendly recycling
activity.
q Work activities
 Ensures safe and eco-friendly recycling of
vessels.
 Circulates notices and information to member
units.
 Resolves problems related to the industry.
 Helps the members to comply with applicable
rules and regulations.
 Encourages member units to apply for ISO
certification
q .Labour welfare activities
 Red Cross Hospital sponsored by the
association.
 Justice B.J. Diwan Charitable Trust for
construction of a modern hospital.
 Fully equipped mobile hospital to handle
emergencies and to provide free medical
check-ups for workers and their families.
 medical camps for diagnosis and treatment of
workers at yard.
Thank You for Your Attention!

rora.janhit@gmail.com