Further Resources

Environmentally sound dismantling of ships

Environmentally sound dismantling of ships

Environmentally sound dismantling of ships

Ship dismantling, also commonly referred to as ship “recycling”, is an inherently sustainable activity, the benefits of which are felt at the global level. As the term ship “recycling” implies, value is derived from the materials and equipment comprising end of life ships: the scrap steel is melted down and is commonly used in the construction industries of ship recycling countries, and equipment (engines, mechanical parts or furniture) is refurbished and reused in other industries.

The industry is based predominantly in South Asia (in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan), which according to 2010 statistics, occupies approximately 70% of the global ship recycling market. Significant recycling activity also takes place in China (19%), with Turkey and other countries occupying the remaining 10% of the market. Beaching is the predominant method of ship recycling in the South Asian Region, whilst China and some other countries employ an alternative method known as pier breaking.

The past decade has seen a substantial variation in the level of activity in the industry. The supply of ships for recycling is subject to large variations as a consequence of the global demand for seaborne transport. From 2004 to 2008, the high demand for maritime transportation resulted in a record low number of ships being sold for recycling (only between 200 to 400 ships per annum, whereas the historical average is between 700 to 800 ships).

However, with the global economic recession in recent years, the demand for maritime transportation has declined. As a result, recycling activity peaked in 2009, with some 1200 ships being sent for recycling. Figures available until September 2010 indicate that high levels of recycling activity are set to continue.

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The Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

The Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

The Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

The Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling was created in 2007 to facilitate improvements in worker health and safety and environmental conditions in ship recycling countries in the South Asia region. The Programme concept has been developed in close consultation with two other international organisations with an interest and expertise in ship recycling: the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The Secretariat of the Basel Convention seeks to work with all ship recycling stakeholders to ensure the future sustainability of the industry.

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Decisions

Decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties (COP) on ship dismantling

 

DecisionsTitleDownload
Items: 19 Files: 37
BC-V/28V/28. Dismantling of ships83.5 K
BC-VI/24VI/24. Technical Guidelines for the Environmentally Sound Management of the Full and Partial Dismantling of Ships 25.5 K18.66 K
BC-VII/25Joint Working Group of the International Labour Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the Basel Convention on Ship Scrapping37.5 K28.05 K
BC-VII/26Environmentally sound management of ship dismantling26 K16.86 K
BC-VII/27Abandonment of ships20 K8.95 K
BC-VIII/9Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization20.5 K9.15 K
BC-VIII/11Environmentally sound management of ship dismantling26 K16.85 K
BC-VIII/12Joint Working Group of the International Labour Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the Basel Convention on Ship Scrapping20 K8.34 K
BC-VIII/13Abandonment of ships on land or in ports21 K9.54 K
BC-IX/12Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization22 K13.05 K
BC-IX/30IX/30: Dismantling of ships28.5 K217.69 K
BC-IX/32Work programme of the Open-ended Working Group for 2009–2011 18.88 K22.33 K
BC-10/16Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization25.5 K16.4 K
BC-10/17Environmentally sound dismantling of ships25 K114.67 K
BC-11/16Environmentally sound dismantling of ships40 K7.54 K
BC-11/17Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization42 K8.67 K
BC-12/15Environmentally sound dismantling of ships254.5 K9.72 K
BC-12/16Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization256.5 K14.78 K
BC-13/15Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization13.84 K9.98 K

Decisions adopted by the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on ship dismantling

 

DecisionTitleDownload
Items: 11 Files: 21
OEWG-II/4Legal aspects of the full and partial dismantling of ships31.5 K175.38 K
OEWG-III/3OEWG-III/3: Legal aspects of the full and partial dismantling of ships37.5 K201.5 K
OEWG-IV/5Environmentally sound management of ship dismantling26 K112.76 K
OEWG-IV/6Abandonment of ships on land or in ports25.5 K128.86 K
OEWG-V/7Abandonment of ships22 K97.72 K
OEWG-V/8Environmentally sound management of ship dismantling27.5 K151.37 K
OEWG-VI/17Environmentally sound management of ship dismantling and the abandonment of ships on land or in ports28.5 K150.37 K
OEWG-VI/18Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization29 K7.87 K
OEWG-VII/12Environmentally sound dismantling of ships66.5 K247.9 K
OEWG-VII/13Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization30 K8.41 K
OEWG-8/9Cooperation between the Basel Convention and the International Maritime Organization132.42 K