Finally the government has formulated the laws regarding dismantling and recycling of scrap ships in the country, in absence of which the ship breaking industry having immense potential to contribute to the national economy, could not flourish in the last three decades.
A senior official in the department of environment in Chittagong
"It is now in the Ministry of Law for vetting. It is expected that the clearance will be available soon and may be placed in the current session of parliament for approval," the official said favouring not to be named.
The laws have been framed in line with the survey and study report made by a committee of experts headed by Professor Alauddin, former pro-vice chancellor and now vice chancellor of Chittagong University
As many as 30 ships have been beached in different shipyards along the Sitakunda coast imported under license from the concerned government authorities but recycling of the scrap ships have remained suspended following a High Court order in a case filed by the environment lawyers alleging that it would threaten ecological balance in the seacoast.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed the concerned authorities to step up framing of the guidelines for ship breaking industry in conversant with environmental issues. She also asked the Attorney General to extend legal support in that direction.
Experts, ship breakers and the Ministry of Environment feel that ship breaking industry can grow up as a very potential sector if it is regulated under the framework of laws that will strictly prohibit import of hazardous vessels, apart from taking other precautionary measures.
Captain Shafi Chowdhury, who beached scrap ships at Sitakunda area for over 25 years and witnessed ship breaking and recycling since 1980, observed that general cargo ships, bulk carriers, containerized and multipurpose ships in general are safe for dismantling and the mortality rate due to accident is negligible.
"So the import of above vessels should not be withheld," he said.
On the other hand, vessels carrying crude oil, naphtha, gasoline and aviation fuel are highly risky. So the precautions that can be taken are:
“Tankers of all sizes should be imported after having their cargo tanks precisely cleaned by hot water butter worthing. The process will provide maximum cleanliness and gas freeness to avert explosion while carrying out hot work. Thus the risk of life of the labourers engaged in such work will diminish.
“All slop tanks must be emptied and gas-freed. Carrying of slop tanks can be strictly forbidden. Minimum amount of bunker for the vessel to complete beaching and loaded in few tanks only should be allowed. No extra bunker will be allowed to be carried.
“The yard owners should provide the labourers with gears such as helmet, leather hand gloves, gas mask, cutting goggles, sound arrester etc. The yard owners should have their own fire fighting arrangement by establishing common fire station centrally located in their yards, field hospital to meet emergency should be established in their premises.
“A team of explosive department inspectors to be framed who will check the gas freeness of each vessel in every field prior to use of the cutting torch. It should be a daily routine work. Sufficient number of foam extinguishers needs to be kept stand-by near the place of cutting operation.
“Sufficient wind sails be used to have free movement of fresh air inside the tank. This arrangement will arrest accumulation of explosive gas inside the cargo tanks.
Source: The Financial Express. By Pankaj Dastider. Thursday, Feb 3, 2011
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