Shipbreaking yards need to be environment friendly

The shipbreaking industry implies an industry that processes (e.g., separates and stores) old and discarded steel, copper metal materials, serviceable parts and machineries, fittings, furniture, and other materials in a shipyard or any convenient place. Importing and dismantling ships can generate foreign exchange revenue for the home country and potentially boost economic growth. Bangladesh is making a significant contribution to the global shipbreaking market through resource recovery.

Article 18(A) of the Bangladesh Constitution states that the state shall protect the environment and safeguard the natural resources, among others. The purpose of this constitutional provision is to protect the environment in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has ratified the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) in 2023, and the convention provides guidelines for stricter environmental safety standards for shipbreaking industries.

Some domestic laws have been enacted for shipbreaking to ensure environmental protection. For instance, the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Act, 2018, the Shipbreaking and Recycling Rules, 2011, the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995, the Environment Conservation Rules, 1997, the Environment Court Act, 2010, the Accidents Act, 1855 and many other related laws. The main objective of these laws is to outline regulations for safe and environment friendly recycling of ships, address environmental concerns, and ensure worker safety.

Unfortunately, due to lack of enforcement of laws, shipbreaking industry engenders huge pollutants and thereby degrade the environment. Furthermore, according to the International Labor Organisation (ILO), the shipbreaking industry is one of the most dangerous in the world. Every year, many workers die by suffocation due to explosions, poisonous gases, and falling iron sheets while cutting ships in the traditional way in these yards. Ships imported for breaking contain black oil, asbestos, harmful paints, and various chemical, while shipbreaking produces unrecyclable iron powder. Many old toxic ships are also bought by the owners in Bangladesh; the owners of the shipbreaking industry buy those ships at a low cost and these ships are not safe for the environment. Indeed, the shipbreaking industry owners do not maintain any safety procedures. Thus, the shipwreck industry causes terrible damage to the environment as well as to human health.

The shipbreaking industry is playing a significant role in the economy, but that should not be the case at the cost of environmental degradation and worker insecurity. The industry cannot be considered as safe in any way in the present context. By implementing mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and other necessary measures, Bangladesh can ensure that the shipbreaking industry contributes to a sustainable future, protects the environment, protects workers' health, and generates economic benefits.

The writer is student of law, University of Asia Pacific.