Brussels, 9 November 2017 -
Shipbreaking plot no. 54 in Gadani, Pakistan, was sealed off yesterday after a
massive fire broke out on-board the ship ACES (IMO 8021830). This is the same
floating oil production tanker that blew up on 1 November last year – an
explosion that caused the death of 31 workers and seriously injured at least
another 58 workers. Fortunately, reports seem to indicate that no workers got
caught in the flames of yesterday’s fire on the ACES.
After having been left
untouched and unbroken in the same yard since last year’s catastrophic
explosion, the Pakistan Department of Environment gave permission last week for
the continued breaking of the ACES. Shockingly, on the very first day that the
breaking commenced, a massive fire broke out again as the oil residues inside
the tanker had not been removed. While there have been no reported fatalities
or injuries as a result of the fire, yesterday’s event goes far in
demonstrating the Pakistani Government’s negligent attitude towards workers’ rights
and safety, as well as enforcing proper environmental standards.
“Clearly, no lessons have
been learnt from the series of tragedies that have hit Gadani in the last
year”, says Dr Muhammad Irfan Khan, member of the NGO Shipbeaking Platform’s
Board. “More investments are sorely needed to ensure institutional capacity
build-up. For the industry to be allowed to continue operating in Pakistan,
authorities need to guarantee the protection of shipbreaking workers and the
enforcement of existing environmental regulations”, he adds.
Following the major blast on
1 November 2016, dubbed the worst tragedy in shipbreaking history and caused by
several gas cylinder explosions, workers have over and over rallied in Gadani
to protest against the deplorable working conditions and the lack of Government
support in enforcing safety and occupational health laws. Evidently, by
authorising the breaking of the ACES to commence again, without having even
ensured that the tanks were cleaned, Pakistani authorities blatantly ignore
workers’ calls as yards are allowed to return to business as usual and
perpetuate the industry’s violent legacy.
The appalling working
conditions at Gadani are well-known, yet European ships are still being sold to
Pakistan for breaking. In the third quarter of 2017 alone, seven ships - five
German, one Greek, and one Norwegian - were sold to the Gadani beach for
breaking.
“It is shameful that
European ship-owners benefit from a situation where worker’s lives are
continuously put at risk. Unless the yards are moved to industrial platforms
away from the tidal beach where the safety of workers and the containment of
pollutants can be ensured, we do not recommend the breaking of ships in
Pakistan”, says Ingvild Jenssen, Director of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
“How many more accidents and deaths at the Gadani beach is the global shipping
industry ready to accept?”, she adds.
Following yesterday’s fire,
the Deputy Commissioner of Hub District – Mr. Mangal – set up an inquiry
committee to look into to the EPA approval to resume breaking of the ACES and
sealed the shipbreaking yard where it is beached. The Platform urges the
Government to ensure that end-of-life ships are dismantled in safe and clean
ship recycling facilities off the beach. Only then will safe working conditions
and the protection of the coastal environment from pollution be safeguarded.
CONTACT
Ingvild JENSSEN
NGO Shipbreaking Platform
Executive Director and
Founder
Tel.: +32 (0)2 6094 419
Source: NGO
Shipbreaking Platform. 09 November 2017
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