The end of the voyage: Costa Concordia reaches ship breaking yard in Italian mainland after five-day towing operation

• The stricken liner will now be broken down into scrap over two years
• 32 people died on the ship and a worker died during the salvage operation
• A restaurant overlooking the ship was blasted for advertising a 'great view'

An aerial view as the Costa Concordia as it is dragged into the harbour of Genoa, today. The vessel, where 33 lost their lives, will be reduced to scrap over the coming two years

The shipwrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner was towed into the city of Genoa recently where it is due to be scrapped.

After being pulled in by tugboats the wreck was moored ready to be cut up for scrap metal.

The wreckage was where 32 people died after the cruise liner struck a reef when its captain sailed too close to Giglio Island off Tuscany's coast in January 2012.

The ship claimed another life in February this year when one of the rescue divers working to salvage it bled to death after cutting his leg on metal in the water, bringing the death toll to 33.

The wreck was set upright in September 2013 and it took five days to drag it to Genoa, headquarters of ship owner Costa Crociere SpA and the port where the luxury vessel first set sail after construction in 2005.

Resting place: After being pulled in by tugboats the wreck was moored ready to be cut up for scrap metal

Meanwhile, an Italian restaurant has provoked anger by handing out flyers promising a 'great view' of the doomed liner.

La Vetta has been accused of trying to cash in on the public relations possibilities of its proximity to the ship.

The restaurant's unique selling point is unlikely to end any time soon. Demolition and scrapping will take an estimated two years, and despite massive protest about the advertising campaign from the La Vetta, business has been booming, with diners wanting to see the famous vessel.

On the flyers the restaurant wrote: 'From our terrace you'll catch a great view of the Costa Concordia.'

On social media networks however the adverts triggered a storm of criticism.

One user wrote: 'Now I've realised why I never went there to eat.'

Others picked up and repeated a call to boycott the restaurant. One wrote: 'This is a scandal. They do not realise this wreckage was a grave for 33 people'.

Source: daily mail. 29 July 2014

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2710037/The-end-voyage-Costa-Concordia-reaches-ship-breaking-yard-Italy-five-day-towing-operation.html

Working Conditions in the Shipbreaking Industry, Bangladesh, 2013-14

1727 workers were dead (Formal Sector – 1401 and Informal Sector – 326) and 2307 workers were injured (Formal Sector – 2133 and Informal Sector – 174) in different workplace accidents from January 01 to December 31, 2013.

Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE) has revealed this yearly workplace accident report based on monitoring fifteen leading national daily newspapers of the country and reports of its field offices in different parts of the country.

As per the findings, in formal sector, the highest number of workers’ casualties (Dead – 1170 and Injured – 1748; whereas dead – 1135 & injured – 1248 only in Rana Plaza Disaster) took place in Garments (sweater, waving, knitting, spinning and composing) industries and the second highest number of workers’ casualties (Dead – 121 and Injured – 125) took place in Construction sector. Moreover, the state of Ship breaking sector is Dead – 26 and Injured – 40.

In informal sector, the highest number of workers’ casualties (Dead – 100 and Injured – 27) took place in Agriculture sector and the second highest number of workers’ casualties (Dead – 54 and Injured – 35) took place in Construction (Household related; personally) sector. Most of agriculture workers were died of thunderstorm or lighting.

The major causes, found for the deaths and injuries are building/roof/wall collapse, factory fire, electrocution, thunderstorm/lighting, falling from height, boiler or water pope explosion, earth collapse and chemical or gas explosion. Furthermore, 1187 workers were dead and 1365 workers were injured because of building/roof/wall collapse. 15 were dead and 282 were injured because of factory fire. Electrocution causes dead – 189 and injured – 57. 136 were dead and 66 were injured for thunderstorm/lighting.

Falling from height causes dead – 84 and injured – 5 and 13 were dead and 28 were injured because of boiler or water pipe explosion.

Source: risebd. 10 January 2014

http://risebd.com/2014/01/10/working-conditions-in-the-shipbreaking-industry-bangladesh-2013-14/

'Unlocking' ship recycling potential:

United Kingdom: There are many 'burning questions' in the shipbreaking arena. And international specialists will discuss these hot topics at the forthcoming Ship Recycling Conference to be held in London on September 30-October 1.

In line with the central theme of how to be successful in the face of competition, the event at the Kensington Close Hotel will provide delegates with the details to help them 'unlock' the potential of cutting-edge European recycling facility projects.

In addition, the conference programme will offer a 'spotlight on yards' on a global scale, including in Turkey and Pakistan, while also providing a practical guide to achieving regulatory compliance in EU ship recycling. There will also be a one-day interactive workshop detailing best practices for beaching.

Speakers in London will include: Emilien Gasc from the Directorate-General for Environment at the European Commission; Jun Sun, technical officer at the International Maritime Organization; Ingvild Jenssen, founder and policy advisor at the NGO Shipbreaking Platform; and Arjen Uytendaal, director of the International Ship Recycling Association.

For more information:

Phone: +44 (0)20 7017 5511

Email: maritimecustserv@informa.com

www.informamaritimeevents.com/FKT2755RIL

Source: recycling international. 29 July 2014

http://www.recyclinginternational.com/recycling-news/8056/other-news/united-kingdom/039-unlocking-039-ship-recycling-potential

Costa Concordia wreck enters Genoa port for scrapping:

The wrecked Italian cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, has entered the port of Genoa for scrapping after a two-year salvage operation.

Costa Concordia ended its journey in the port where it's life began nine years ago

Its removal was one of the biggest ever maritime salvage operations.

The Concordia struck a reef off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 and capsized, killing 32 people.

Captain Francesco Schettino has denied charges of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship, which could see him jailed for up to 20 years.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is expected in Genoa in the afternoon to see the end of the complex docking procedure, which is expected to take several hours.

The vessel spent four days being towed at a slow speed from Giglio

Genoa is where the Costa Concordia was built and launched amid fanfare and celebration nine years ago but now she is limping home to be scrapped, says the BBC's Alan Johnston.

"The operation to recover the Concordia was not easy. Italy carried it out, the Italy that, when it sets out to, is capable of doing anything, even of surprising us," Mr Renzi said.

Antonio Benvenuti, the head of Genoa's harbour workers' union, told AP that there was no "precise schedule" for each stage of dealing with the wreck.

Hundreds of workers are expected to be employed in the scrapping of the vessel

Tests will be carried out first to monitor for potential pollution problems, Mr Benvenuti said, before the first stage of the operation would begin, reducing the weight of the ship in order to lift it.

The Costa Concordia was re-floated nine days ago and was kept above the surface by giant buoyancy chambers. More than a dozen vessels helped to tow the ship after it was pulled away from Giglio on Wednesday.

A huge net was dragged behind the vessel aimed at catching things that might spill out of the wreck, such as furniture or passengers' belongings, our correspondent says.

The wreck was hauled upright in September last year but was still partially submerged, resting on six steel platforms.

Investigators are still looking for the body of Indian waiter Russel Rebello, whose body is the only one not to have been found.

The Costa Concordia's owners, Costa Crociere, estimate the operation to remove the wreck from the reef and tow it for scrapping will cost 1.5bn euros (£1.2bn; $2bn) in total.

Source: bbc. 27 July 2014

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28508387

Notorious drug smuggling ship towed to Seattle for scrapping:

A freighter seized off the coast of Washington state nearly four decades ago in one of the largest marijuana busts in the region's history was moved to Seattle on Thursday and will eventually be scrapped, local officials said.

The Helena Star was towed from Tacoma to Seattle by state agencies and will be inspected and broken down over the next week, said Bob Redling of Washington's Department of Natural Resources.

The drug smuggling ship made national headlines when it was seized by the Coast Guard in 1978 with 37 tons of marijuana on board. At the time, it was the biggest maritime pot bust in West Coast history.

Helena Star's South American captain and eight crew members were arrested, and the flagless ship, en route to Canada, was docked in Seattle.

The vessel eventually made it to auction and changed hands among private owners several times before being purchased by a Tacoma man who docked the rusting, ageing structure in the city's Hylebos Waterway, Redling said.

In 2013, the Helena Star sank, spilling 640 gallons of oil and diesel gasoline into the waterway and taking down another vessel next to it. The owner of the ship, Stephen Mason, has been charged with abandoning a vessel and polluting state waterways. He faces up to a year in jail if convicted.

The ship must dry out and undergo inspection before it is scrapped, Redling said. The sale of the scrap, estimated to bring in about $1 million, was unlikely to cover the price tag of recovery and demolition, he said.

Source: reuters. 24 July 2014

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/24/us-usa-washington-ship-idUSKBN0FT2Z820140724

No small scraps: Brownsville emerging as shipbreaking capital

The modernization of the U.S. Navy’s military ship fleet is proving lucrative for South Texas shipbreaking operations.

Navy officials recently awarded the nation’s largest shipbreaking contract to a Brownsville company. International Shipbreaking Ltd. has been commissioned to dismantle the USS Constellation, a Kitty Hawk “supercarrier” class aircraft carrier. The 1,100-foot, 62,000-ton vessel is scheduled to begin its final journey from Washington state to Brownsville at the end of this month.

The trip is expected to take more than three months, and Connie, as she’s known, should arrive at the Port of Brownsville near year’s end.

This is the third big military ship-breaking contract to come to the port this year. The USS Forrestal, the U.S. Navy’s first supercarrier, arrived in Brownsville in February and is being dismantled by All Star Metals. The USS Saratoga, a Lexington-class aircraft carrier, should arrive soon, and ESCO Marine will begin tearing that one apart.

Because of its size and the time and cost involved in bringing the Constellation to Brownsville — it will be towed from the northwest U.S. coast around the southern tip of South America — the Navy contract pays International Shipbreaking $3,000. Most other jobs, including the other two at the Brownsville port, sell the ships to the dismantlers for one cent; the money is made selling the many tons of scrap metal once they’re broken apart.

Apparently, past concerns that allowing one or more new shipbreaking companies to move into South Texas might hurt those already here don’t seem to have proven true. If anything, the expansion has had the opposite effect by establishing the Port of Brownsville as a recognizable center of dismantling operations.

It’s now being called the shipbreaking capital of the United States.

In addition, it also has other salvage operations. Port Director Eddie Campirano has said such companies pay more than $500,000 annually in leases alone.

Those looking for salvage business, in addition to our Defense Department, could well look first to South Texas, knowing that several businesses here can do the work.

With a local economy that is dominated by retail and agriculture, any industrial market, including ship-breaking and salvage, adds diversity that can help the area withstand low periods in one or more areas of the economy.

Such diversity also creates greater job opportunities for Rio Grande Valley residents.

We hope — and believe — that the attention our shipbreakers are drawing to the area also attracts other industrial operations.

Source: the monitor. 24 July 2014

http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/editorial-no-small-scraps-brownsville-emerging-as-ship-breaking-capital/article_e7eee60c-12bb-11e4-bbdd-001a4bcf6878.html

CII, Gujarat Maritime Board organize conference on ship recycling code:

VADODARA: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) along with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in association with the Employment and Labour Department of Gujarat government organized a one day conference on 'Ship Recycling Code: implementation, challenges and the way forward' at Bhavnagar on Wednesday.

The conference was organized to create awareness towards safety management in ship recycling with reference to roles and responsibilities of various concerned agencies involved in ship recycling.

Officials from GMB, director general of Factory Advise Safety and Labor Institute (DGFSALI), director of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), Petroleum Safety Organization (PESO) and Ship Recycling Industrial Association (SRIA) were present to disseminate their roles in ship breaking at the conference.

Speaking at the inaugural session Sanjay Prasad, principal secretary of Gujarat government's labour and employment department said the state government has allocated a budget of Rs 30 crore for setting up an ESIC hospital in Alang.

Prasad announced that Gujarat government will set up Kaushalya Vardhan Kendras in Alang and start skill training for the workers involved in ship breaking through Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute to upscale the quality of workers.

He added that he looks forward to the support from SRIA on these trainings and the adherence to the ship breaking code to make Alang an accident free zone for which he required the personal involvement of owners of ship recycling plots.

Source: times of india. 23 July 2014

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/CII-Gujarat-Maritime-Board-organize-conference-on-ship-recycling-code/articleshow/38931646.cms

Costa Concordia: Time-lapse as ship towed for scrapping

The wrecked Italian cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, is being towed on its final journey to the port of Genoa for scrapping.

The Concordia struck a reef off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 and capsized, killing 32 people.

The cruise ship is being towed at two knots, almost at walking pace, with an escort of more than a dozen tug boats.

The journey, which is expected to take four days, began shortly before 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT). This time-lapse footage shows the first 15 minutes of the operation.  

Source: BBC. 23 July 2014

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28438161

SILK pins its hope on PCB

Kannur Collector ordered closure of shipbreaking unit at Azhikkal

While the District Collector’s order to stop the shipbreaking operations of Steel Industries Kerala Limited (SILK) at Azhikkal is seen as a victory for the local action committee, which had spearheaded the agitation demanding the termination of the ship-for-scrap work, SILK authorities hope that the unit will be able to resume the operations as soon as it receives clearance from the Pollution Control Board (PCB).

The Collector’s order was hailed by the action committee which had been alleging that the work was causing environmental and health hazards in the area. The committee also charged the public sector company of operating without any clearance from the PCB and the local panchayat.

The SILK authorities, however, said that they had not received any order from the Collector till late in the evening on July 21.

Meanwhile, the present operations at the unit were stopped following protests from the local action committee on Tuesday morning.

Action committee members took out a demonstration from the unit to nearby Vankulathuvayal demanding steps to persuade SILK to pay compensation to people who suffered health problems because of the ship-breaking operations.

M.K. Manoharan, chairman of the action committee, also demanded an independent inquiry into the financial transactions of SILK. He also said that the proposed Maritime Technology Institute be set up on the site.

SILK managing director A. Aubid, when contacted, said that he was hopeful that the unit would get the necessary clearance from the PCB.

He said that the Azhikkal unit had implemented all the nine pollution control measures as stipulated at the meeting convened by District Collector P. Bala Kiran.

The measures include water spraying, covered yard for shipbreaking works, shed for storing materials and cleaning the entire yard of the unit. Mr. Aubid

Source: the hindu. 23 July 2014

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/silk-pins-its-hope-on-pcb/article6241199.ece

No small scraps:

The modernization of the U.S. Navy’s military ship fleet is proving lucrative for local shipbreaking operations.

Navy officials recently awarded the nation’s largest shipbreaking contract to a local company. International Shipbreaking Ltd. has been commissioned to dismantle the USS Constellation, a Kitty Hawk “supercarrier” class aircraft carrier. The 1,100-foot, 62,000-ton vessel is scheduled to begin its final journey from Washington state to Brownsville at the end of this month. The trip is expected to take more than three months, and “Connie,” as she’s known, should arrive at the local port near year’s end.

This is the third big military ship-breaking contract to come to the port this year. The USS Forrestal, the U.S. Navy’s first supercarrier, arrived in Brownsville in February and is being dismantled by All Star Metals. The USS Saratoga, a Lexington-class aircraft carrier, should arrive soon, and ESCO Marine will begin tearing it apart.

Because of its size and the time and cost involved in bringing the Constellation to Brownsville — it will be towed from the northwest U.S. coast around the southern tip of South America — the Navy contract pays International Shipbreaking $3,000. Most other jobs, including the other two at the local port, sell the ships to the dismantlers for one cent; the money is made selling the many tons of scrap metal once they’re broken apart.

Apparently, past concerns that allowing one or more new ship-breaking companies to move into this area might hurt those already here don’t seem to have proven true. If anything, the expansion has had the opposite effect, by establishing the Port of Brownsville as a recognizable center of dismantling operations. It’s now being called the ship-breaking capital of the United States. In addition, it also has other salvage operations. Port Director Eddie Campirano has said such companies pay more than a half-million dollars in leases alone.

Those looking for salvage business, in addition to our Defense Department, could well look first to South Texas, knowing that several businesses here can do the work.

With a local economy that is dominated by retail and agriculture, any industrial market, including ship-breaking and salvage, adds add diversity that can help the area withstand low periods in one or more areas of the economy.

Such diversity also creates greater job opportunities for Rio Grande Valley residents.

We hope the attention our ship breakers are drawing to the area also attracts other industrial operations to the area.

Source: Brownsville herald. 23 July 2014

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/opinion/editorials/article_b15c1098-1215-11e4-bf06-001a4bcf6878.html

Chinese recyclers barely scraping a living:

Shanghai: China’s ship recyclers are enduring a torrid time of late. “The summer months have not been kind to the Chinese market,” ship scrapping experts, GMS Weekly notes in its most recent report. Prices on scrap steel have slipped further, to place them well behind their Indian sub-continent competitors, at least by some $150 per ldt and even behind Turkey as well.

GMS said it would be no surprise if prices fell below even what Vietnam and Indonesian scrap yards are paying on geographically positioned units, which tend to be locally flagged and smaller general cargo types. 

Source: sinoship news. 22 July 2014

http://sinoshipnews.com/News/Chinese-recyclers-barely-scraping-a-living/3w3c2874.html

Collector to Issue Stop Memo to SILK Ship-breaking Unit:

KANNUR:  District Collector P Balakiran has decided to issue stop memo to the shipbreaking unit of the Steel Industrials Kerala Ltd (SILK) for failing to produce the licences issued by the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the local body.

The decision was taken as the ultimatum given to the SILK unit ended on Monday. The Collector told ‘Express’ that he could not protract a decision on the matter as the ship-breaking unit had put people’s lives in danger. “The SILK officials had held talks with the Industries Minister and the management had demanded two months’ time to obtain the licenses, to which we had agreed. They have failed to produce the licences,” he said.

‘Express’ had given extensive coverage to the issue and the protests launched by the people of Azhikkal under the banner of the Kappalppoli Virudha Samithi (Committee against Ship-breaking). The protesters alleged that the vessel dismantling unit flouted all safety and environmental norms stipulated by the United Nations and international agencies. Greenpeace had warned in 2003 that the ship-breaking unit at Azhikkal was going to be as dangerous as that in the yards at Alang in Gujarat, the world’s largest such unit.

The Collector said the PCB environmental engineer met him and made it clear that the board was not in a position to issue licence to the SILK. “The PCB officials in Kannur forwarded a report to the PCB headquarters as they needed further clarification. Hence it was clear that the issuing of licence may take more time,” he said.

Source: new indian express.  22 July 2014

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Collector-to-Issue-Stop-Memo-to-SILK-Ship-breaking-Unit/2014/07/22/article2342766.ece

GMS weekly report on Bangladesh ship breaking industry for WEEK 29 of 2014:

Despite two market sales, the Bangladeshi market struggled on for yet another week (in terms of sentiment and pricing). With Eid, one of the biggest holidays of the year taking place next week, the focus of nearly all end buyers remained on the upcoming festivities rather than negotiate on tonnage.

Meanwhile, heavy rains have also beset Chittagong over the monsoon period again dampening demand and making existing deliveries, beachings (for various clearances and boardings) and cutting, almost impossible.

Of the sales that did take place this week, the handymax bulker SEVENKAR (8,206 LDT) was committed for a decent USD 460/LT LDT (with the premium obtained for the 250 T bunkers on board).

In a more speculative purchase, the woodchip carrier WINTEC (9,410 LDT) obtained a very firm USD 480 per LT LDT, with the concerned cash buyer presumably speculating on the market picking up post Eid.

Source: steel guru. 22 July 2014

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/GMS_weekly_report_on_Bangladesh_ship_breaking_industry_for_WEEK_29/344510.html

GMS weekly report on Indian ship breaking industry for WEEK 29 of 2014:

A nervous week ensued in India on the back of some drastic falls in the price of local steel plates, and an Indian Rupee that is once again beginning to display signs of worrying depreciation.

Many end buyers full of enthusiasm and exuberance during the previous few weeks in the wake of the positive news on the budget and still reveling in the appointment of the favored Mr Modi as PM became withdrawn, refusing even to offer on units being proposed.

A fall of around INR 1,000 (about $16/Ton) on steel prices and a Rupee that began to trade over INR 60 against the USD, again saw as much as USD 20 per LT LDT wiped off prices over the course of the week.

Those cash buyers who had purchased vessels at the peak of the market last week including the extraordinary price for the CSL RIDE (12,953 LDT) at an astonishing USD 531.50 per LT LDT, began to fear for the worst and must be hoping for some stability in the weeks ahead, to bring buyers back to the table.

The two sales that were done seemed to bely the perilous state of the market at present, as the Polish controlled ORLETA WOWSKIE (13,361 LDT) was sold for a fantastic USD 497 per LT LDT, in the third sale from the group in as many months. The Danish build and soft grain cargoes (meaning the holds are likely to be in excellent condition) were largely responsible for the price on show.

The handysize bulker SAKHALIN (6,622 LDT) likewise received a very firm price of USD 481 per LT LDT in the other sale for the week.

Source: steel guru. 22 July 2014

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/GMS_weekly_report_on_Indian_ship_breaking_industry_for_WEEK_29/344512.html

GMS weekly report on China ship breaking industry for WEEK 29 of 2014:

The summer months have not been kind to the Chinese market with prices on scrap steel slipping even further, to place them well behind their Indian sub-continent competitors (at least by some USD 150 per LT LDT) and even behind Turkey as well.

Indeed, it would be no surprise if prices fell below even what Vietnam and Indonesian scrap yards are paying on geographically positioned units (usually locally flagged and smaller general cargo types).

It was therefore another bleak week in terms of local sales and even those owners with green vessels for China only, must surely be looking towards India to make up for the extremely disappointing prices on show.

Source: steel guru. 22 July 2014

http://www.steelguru.com/international_news/GMS_weekly_report_on_China_ship_breaking_industry_for_WEEK_29/344560.html

GMS weekly report on Pakistan ship breaking industry for WEEK 29 of 2014:

As THE market player of the moment, Pakistan buyers tried their utmost to divert any of the market tonnage their way. Having secured a number of vessels recently, including several VLCCS gas free for man entry, demand remains ripe for larger units in particular, at similar prices.

Indeed, even those vessels considered prime India candidates ended up in Pakistan hands, with the TBS controlled bulker TUSCARORA BELLE (7,394 LDT) fetching a very decent USD 491 per LT LDT (with 450 T bunkers on board included in the sale).

Furthermore, with the way the India market has been moving during the last week, it may not be a surprise to see even more units diverted into Pakistan, to satisfy the lush demand at present.

Source: steel guru. 22 July 2014
http://www.steelguru.com/international_news/GMS_weekly_report_on_Pakistan_ship_breaking_industry_for_WEEK_29/344558.html

GMS weekly report on Turkey ship breaking industry for WEEK 29 of 2014:

The ongoing dearth of tonnage continues to keep demand prevalent and prices from the local market, relatively firm. In fact, there are a few (eager) local recyclers, who are willing to offer a few notches above prevailing levels, just to get a unit or two and keep their yards active, rather than risk facing closure.

Notwithstanding, there may be some hope for the local market in the coming weeks. As was anticipated by local recyclers, the conclusion of the month of Ramadan would see the market pick up and supply increase and as is being reported, a dip in the freight rates in the Med / Black Sea area did see supply firm up by a touch this week.

Accordingly, we may well see Turkey take in a fair share of sales in August.

Source: steel guru. 22 July 2014

http://www.steelguru.com/international_news/GMS_weekly_report_on_Turkey_ship_breaking_industry_for_WEEK_29/344562.html

Shipbreaking move invites fisherfolk’s ire in Kozhikode:

The government planned to support the lobbies behind the vessel dismantling projects in Beypore as they had been forced to leave from their earlier unit at Azhikkal in Kannur.

A joint action council of various fishermen’s organisations and environmental forums has threatened to launch an indefinite agitation in protest against the alleged move by the Kerala government to give the “go ahead” for ship-breaking works at Beypore.

Leaders of the action council said in Kozhikode on Monday that the government planned to support the lobbies behind the vessel dismantling projects in Beypore as they had been forced to leave from their earlier unit at Azhikkal in Kannur district.

Threat to health

They alleged that Steel Industries Kerala Ltd. and some of the big industrialists in the sector were emerging as promoters of the business, which posed strong threat to the environment and the health of people.

Rajesh Warier, one of the leaders of the action council formed against the ship-breaking works, said various environmental and social organisations would team up in Kozhikode to launch a mass people’s agitation on August 24.

He also affirmed that the support of people in the literary and cultural spheres of Kozhikode would be sought to mobilise public opinion for the cause.

“We would never be able to support this highly polluting and destructive ship-breaking works here as it fetches its benefits to only an affluent minority,” he added.

Source: the hindu. 22 July 2014

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/shipbreaking-move-invites-fisherfolks-ire-in-kozhikode/article6236060.ece

State Human Rights panel visits Steel Industries Kerala unit

TNN reported that amid charges that the ship breaking and building unit of Steel Industries Kerala Limited, a public sector undertaking in Azhikkal, has been generating hazardous pollutants, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) visited the unit and recorded people's complaints on Thursday.

According to commission member Mr KE Gangadharan, who visited the site, the concerns seem to be genuine. But the management of SILK has been ignoring the issue.

Mr Gangadharan said that "Many have complained of itching and inflammation in their eyes. Lack of immediate action might lead to serious issues. A study is required to assess the gravity of the situation. Despite examples like the Kasaragod endosulfan tragedy, we pay no heed to such issues."

He said that the management of SILK apparently have little interest in running the unit as per rules and that there seem to be gross violations. In the wake of our findings, we will submit a report to the government and recommend proper action. The unit does not even have a licence from the panchayat.

However, the management of SILK said that they have taken all safety measures and that efforts are on to get a licence from Azhikode panchayat.

Mr P Manoharan the unit's manager said that "At a recent meeting called by the district collector, we were given guidelines and we are trying to implement them. Efforts are also on to get a licence from the panchayat after renewing the certificate from the pollution control board (PCB),"

However, the management has no answer as to why it failed to get licence from the panchayat though the unit was established in 1984. Incidentally, the collector has given them an ultimatum to obtain all licences and environmental clearance by July 21, failing which they will be asked to close down.

Mr Pavithran K president of panchayat said that “The management has been trying to obtain the licence only since receiving the ultimatum, according to Azhikode panchayat. "Earlier this week, we got an application from SILK for the licence. But they have no PCB certificate, without which licence can't be issued.”

Source: steel guru. 20 July 2014

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/State_Human_Rights_panel_visits_Steel_Industries_Kerala_unit/344378.html