South Asia dominates third quarter ship demolition activity

In this quarterly publication, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform informs about the shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Providing an overview of vessels broken on the beaches of South Asia, accidents, recent on-the-ground, legislative and political developments including our activities in South Asia we aim to inform the public about the negative impacts of substandard shipbreaking practices as well as positive steps aimed at the realisation of environmental justice and the protection of workers’ rights. In this third edition of the update we inform amongst other about a fatal accident onboard the German owned ship KINGJUSTUS; growing opposition against dirty and dangerous shipbreaking in Kerala, India; and the lack of medical treatment for injured workers and ongoing court case by BELA in Bangladesh. This edition also includes two case stories from our field visit to Chittagong in September. So far this year 515 ships have ended up on the beaches of South Asia causing this third quarter the death of at least 4 workers – bringing the total death toll so far this year to 21 workers.

OPINION FROM SOUTH ASIA:
In 2013, the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), a statutory body advising the Indian Government on human rights issues, commissioned the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to conduct research on the working and living conditions in the shipbreaking yards of Alang, India. Geetanjoy Sahu was responsible for the extensive field work in Alang and wrote the report which was submitted by TISS to the NHRC in July. According to the TISS report, the situation in Alang has barely improved these last 30 years despite official claims to the contrary. The researchers found inadequate accommodation, a lack of clean drinking water, lack of sanitation facilities, understaffed and underequipped health care facilities and workers without sufficient training on how to handle hazardous wastes and emergencies. The Indian Factories Act and other labour laws continue to be blatantly violated at the Alang shipbreaking yards. TISS also looked at the impact of the shipbreaking activities in Alang on local community es and found villagers suffering from skin and respiratory problems, water scarcity and polluted tube-wells.

“The shipbreaking industries in India are promoted and developed at the cost of the environment and workers’ rights. That major issues related to working and living conditions have not been addressed so far is due to a real governance deficit in the whole regulation of the shipbreaking industries in India. The presence of multiple authorities without any coordination has resulted in the failure of the implementation of both environment and labour laws. This problem needs to be addressed through multi-pronged strategies including strong regulatory measures bo that the national and international level. Shipbreaking activities can only be sustainable with an integrated approach to balance environmental protection, development and social justice.”

OFF THE BEACH !
Out of 202 vessels broken during this third quarter of 2014 more than 70 percent ended up on the beaches of South Asia. 39 of these ships were owned by European shipowners – Greek owners alone sold 19 ships to South Asian breakers representing more than 80% of all Greek ships broken globally this quarter. Despite the new EU law out-ruling the use of the beaching method to dismantleEU flagged vessels, ships registered under the flags of Cyprus, Malta and Greece hit the beaches – more ships also changed their flag from an EU to a non-EU flag just weeks before reaching South Asia. Polish Government owned POLSTEAM sold three vessels to South Asian breakers this quarter, all were registered under the flag of Vanu atu. This brings the number of POLSTEAM ships broken in substandard beaching facilities to a total of seven since 2013. Also, while Chinese ship owner COSCO reportedly will receive a 225 million USD subsidy to decommission and upgrade ships domestically, a Chinese Government owned vessel was sold to a Bangladeshi breaker in July.

More than half of the Chinese owned ships broken this quarter were sold to South Asian breakers. None of these – except the Government owned ship sold to Bangladesh– were registered under the Chinese flag. Flags of convenience (FOCs) such as Comoros, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Tuvalu, that are less favoured during operational use, were excessively popular flags for the end-of-life ships broken in South Asia. Finally, whilst German Hapag-Lloyd joined the group of progressive ship owners committed to responsible ship recycling off the beach, Dutch ship owner VROON B.V. does the opposite by selling one of its livestock vessels to Bangladesh.

ACCIDENTS
Seven accidents – six in Chittagong and one in Alang – have been reported this quarter. At least three workers lost their lives breaking obsolete ships on the beach, an additional worker died whilst working at an adjacent steel re-rolling mill in Chittagong.
o On 3 July, two workers, Taslim and Shahajahan got injured working on the Greek owned tanker OLYMPIC SPONSOR. The Bangladeshi yard concerned, Legend Holding Shipbreaking, has a sad track record of accidents(see story about Taslim on page 6 ).
oAnother worker, Shofiq, got injured at Legend Holding Shipbreaking on 3 August. In addition to the OLYMPIC SPONSOR, German owned bulk carrier MAGDALENE was being dismantled at this yard.
o On 14 August a gas cylinder explosion severely injured four workers at Master and Brother LTD shipbreaking yard in Chittagong. The workers were submitted to a priv ate hospital. No visitors were allowed. Both ships that were broken at the yard at the time of the accident – Chinese owned SKY OCEANUS and SKY TETHYS – had sailed under an EU flag up until the age of 30.

Gas operator Uttam Nath died on the spot when he fell from a ship at M/S M.A. Shipbreaking yard in Chitta gong on 16 August. His dead body was sent to post-mortem and a case of accident was filed with the Sitakund Police Station. Uttam provided sole income to family of three daughters.

On the 30 August two workers were in an accident at Kabir Steel Shipbreaking in Bangladesh. 5 days later, 42 year old Azfal died in hospital of his injuries.

o At Kabir Steel re-rolling mills, adjacent to the Kabir Steel shipbreaking yard, Asad Mia, 20 years old, died when he fell from a high ladder.

o In India, on Plot nr 58 which is operated by Malwi Shipbreaking Company, 27 year old Prasant Dakua originally from Orissa lost his life on 22 September. He slipped and fell while climbing a ladder during the oil removal process on board German owned KING JUSTUS.
Another worker, Ravindra Prajapati, got injured.

Source: NGO Ship Breaking Platform