Groups Present Report on Dangers of Ship Dismantling

Three groups, Greenpeace, the International Federation for Human Rights, and the Young Power in Social Action have released a study on the working conditions, occupational hazards and poor wage of the obsolete vessel recycling yard workers. The report, called “End of Life Ships: the Human Cost of Recycling,” called for the enactment of enforceable rules for a safe ship recycling industry.

The report also suggested development of the regulatory tools for the recycling yard owners and the workers in the light of international conventions and guidelines.

According to published reports, the report called upon the exporters of the obsolete ships to help recycling yard officials and workers in the developing countries to provide adequate precautions of the predicted danger of the particular ship.

“Each of the obsolete vessels must be made gas-free and clean before sanding it for recycling. Hot work certification can also be lunched for confirmation,” the report said.

The report urged the governments of the ship recycling countries for complete implementation of the domestic rules, ratified international conventions and commitments for protecting the recycling yard workers and the environment as well.

Putting emphasis on implementation of the ILO conventions, the report asked the governments of the ship recycling countries to strengthen their labor inspection system apart from regulating the yard owners.