Global: Vessel recycling figures have been declining sharply over recent
years, it was confirmed at the Informa Ship Recycling Conference held recently
in London.
Some US$ 5.1 billion worth of vessels had been recycled in 2012, falling
to US$ 4 billion in 2013 and just US$ 3 billion last year, reported Vagelis
Chatzigiannis, a Dubai-based trader and responsible recycling co-ordinator for
leading cash buyer GMS. The light displacement tonnage numbers for the
respective years were 12.1 million, 10.9 million and 4.5 million - and he
predicted a figure for this year of just 3.5 million.
Also at the Informa conference, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform - set up to
hold the shipping industry accountable for its vessel disposal practices - was
accused of 'exaggeration, distortion and lies' on worker safety.
Dr Nikos Mikelis, former head of ship recycling at the International
Maritime Organization (IMO), said: 'NGO claims there have been no changes for
35 000 workers in India since the 1980s, but it's not true. They've got
drinking water, toilets, health insurance. This is ignored. Injured workers are
extracted from the vessel exactly as in other countries. This fact is
distorted. Indian yards are ready to listen to the international community. We
should not shoot them.'
According to Ramesh Aggarwal, honorary secretary of India's Ship
Recycling Industries Association, a ban on beaching would put the domestic
industry at Alang in jeopardy. 'We have been making improvements and the IMO
has recognised this, but we always get adverse publicity, and we have a problem
accessing funds,' he told delegates.
*A full report on the conference will appear in the August issue of
Recycling International.
Source: recycling international. 6 July 2015
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