For the past several years Greenpeace has been seeking international attention for the way ocean-going ships are scrapped. A decommissioned ship contains a wide range of toxic materials that threaten the health of workers and the environment. Greenpeace urges shipowners/operators to take responsibility for their end-of-life vessels. Unfortunately the dumping of toxic ships continues. Today Greenpeace is launching a website with public information on shipbreaking. We are also publishing a list of 50 ships that are expected to be scrapped within the next few years. Your company controls one of the ships on this list. We urgently request you to take full responsibility for your ship. This letter contains some information on the problems associated with shipbreaking and also presents a statement to be signed by shipping companies who will commit themselves to solving the problem of dumping toxic substances on Asian countries.
An ocean-going vessel contains toxic substances found on board a ship, in her structure or as a part of her machinery and/or equipment. Up to several tonnes of various types of asbestos can be found in the engine and machinery rooms, in the accommodation, on the deck or in the machinery. Other hazardous materials that can be present are materials containing PCBs, gases and chemicals sealed in ship's equipment or machinery such as halon, kerosene, solvents and lead acid batteries. Around 95% of the lightweight tonnage of a ship consists of steel, coated with numerous tonnes of paint containing lead, cadmium, organotins, arsenic, zinc and chromium. Operationally generated wastes include several thousands litres of oily waste, dirty ballast water and residues (such as engine fuel, bilge oil, hydraulic and lubrication oils and greases). A list of hazardous materials which may be found on board ships can be downloaded from www.marisec.org/recycling.
Many of these substances are already defined as hazardous waste under the Basel Convention, meaning that these substances are not allowed to be exported from an OECD to a non-OECD country. In Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S. such waste is subject to special monitoring and their disposal is highly regulated and expensive. At the scrapyards in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Turkey and China however, old ships containing these materials are being cut by hand, on open beaches and along quays under inhumane and dangerous working conditions.
Greenpeace is not opposed to the scrapping of vessels in Asia (or anywhere else). Our opposition lies in the way the practice is currently being carried out with total disregard for the health of workers and lack of respect for the environment. The shipping industry has a responsibility in this context. Shipping companies are responsible for the toxic materials on board a ship and the environmental pollution and asbestos victims these materials cause. Strict measures in OECD countries to prevent exposure to these dangerous substances should not be circumvented by sending ships to Asia. Greenpeace demands that ships-for-scrap be decontaminated prior to export to Asia.
The new website with information on the practise of scrapping vessels, as well as, solutions can be found on www.greenpeaceweb.org/shipbreak.
The website also contains a list of 50 ships and owners/operators of these ships. We call on these companies (and all others) to take responsibility. We encourage you to take part in the solution and stop the unacceptable exposure of workers and the environment to hazardous substances from decommissioned ships. We call upon you to sign a statement. Download statement (pdf format). You can send the statement to:
Greenpeace
Ms M. Harjono
Keizersgracht 174
1016 DW Amsterdam
The Netherlands
For any additional information we are happy to respond. You can contact Ms Harjono (mharjono@ams.greenpeace.org and phone: 31-20-5249562) or Mr Furtado (mfurtado@dialb.greenpeace.org). Hope to receive your signature on the statement.
Yours sincerely
Greenpeace International
Remarkable ships Pacific Princess ('Love Boat') is on the Greenpeace list. More remarkable ships...
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