SHIPBREAKING

A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRY

SHIPBREAKING

A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRY

SHIPBREAKING

A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRY

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NGO_Shipbreaking

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform is a global coalition of organisations working to reverse the environmental harm and human rights abuses caused by current shipbreaking practices and to ensure the safe and environmentally sound dismantling of end-of-life ships worldwide.

Just as the goods they transport, ships too become waste when they reach the end of their operational lives. Yet only a fraction is handled in a safe and clean manner. The vast majority of the world's end-of-life fleet, full of toxic substances, is simply broken down - by hand - on the beaches of South Asia. There, unscrupulous shipping companies exploit minimal enforcement of environmental and safety rules to maximise profits.

Ship owners from East Asia and Europe top the list of dumpers that sell ships for breaking on South Asian beaches.

In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan ships are broken apart directly on the beach instead of in an industrial site: a practice known as "beaching".

 

Since 2009:

 

7751
SHIPS BEACHED
436
DEATHS
384
INJURIES
ISSUES OF INTEREST
WHY SHIPS ARE TOXIC
FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE
CHILD LABOUR
CLEAN AND SAFE SOLUTIONS

SPOTLIGHT

The Toxic Tide – 2022 Shipbreaking Records

2022 shipbreaking records: most shipping companies continue to opt for the highest price at the worst scrapping yards.

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Where ships go to die – Winner of the Public Eye Investigation Award

Decommissioned deep-sea vessels are floating toxic waste. Their disposal is laborious and costly, and regarded as a menace by those who want to protect both the workers… Read More

Maersk’s toxic trade: the North Sea Producer case

In August 2016 the FPSO NORTH SEA PRODUCER was beached in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The ship was allowed to leave the UK based on false claims that it… Read More

The controversial case of the Harrier: holding business to account

It all started with an anonymous letter informing us that the EIDE CARRIER was sold for scrap. Having been laid up for many years on the Norwegian… Read More

Newsroom

Dhaka, Sep 28th 2023

Press Release – Bangladesh: shipping firms profit from labour abuse

New report reveals network used by shipowners and shipbreaking yards to circumvent international laws prohibiting the dumping of end-of-life ships on South Asian beaches.

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Brussels, Aug 14th 2023

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #34

Seven workers suffered an accident on South Asian beaches in the second quarter of 2023.

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Rotterdam, Jul 13th 2023

Press Release – Ship owner and two directors fined by Dutch Court for breaching EU waste law

Dutch company Jumbo and two of its directors fined for their involvement in the illegal export of an end-of-life ship to Turkey for recycling. 

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Rio de Janeiro, Jul 10th 2023

Press Release – Petrobras to recycle offshore unit in Brazil for the first time

This significant move paves the way for the development of a recycling industry in Brazil.

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Brussels, Jul 05th 2023

Press Release – NGOs call on the Netherlands to push for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of FSO Safer

The Dutch government is a pioneer in environmentally friendly technologies implementing sound life-cycle practices.

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Brussels, Jul 04th 2023

Press Release – NGOs warn that Hong Kong Convention will fail to ensure sustainable ship recycling

Treaty to continue toxic business-as-usual on the 
Beaches of South Asia while undermining efforts for reform.

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Brussels, Jun 15th 2023

Press Release – Human rights and environmental NGOs urge UNDP to ensure the clean and safe recycling of FSO Safer

The NGOs warn against the possibility of the FSO being scrapped at one of the notorious South Asian shipbreaking yards.

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Lisbon, May 17th 2023

Press Release – NGOs organise event on sustainable maritime transport on 31 May in Lisbon

On 31 May, between 2PM and 7:30PM, the NGOs ZERO, Sciaena, NGO Shipbreaking Platform and Circular Economy Portugal are organising the conference “Waves of change: towards circular… Read More