744 ships were scrapped in 2018

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744 large merchant vessels were sold to wrecking yards in 2018. 518 of these vessels were scrapped on beaches in South Asia and made a new record of 90,4 percent of the total tonnage that was scrapped on a global scale throughout the year.

”The figures for 2018 are shocking. Most ship owners are aware of the problems surround these beach ship yards. But they continue to massively sell their ships to the worst yards because they offer higher prices. Workers put their lives at risk as they are surrounded by toxins, and coastal ecosystems get destroyed. Ship owners should sell to their ships to recycling yards that invest in their employees and the environment, ”says CEO and founder of NGO Shipbreaking Platform, Ingvild Jenssen.

According to new data provided by NGO Shipbreaking Platform, at least 34 workers lost their lives while doing ship breaking tasks. The organizations has documentation that proves that at least 14 workers died in Alang, which makes 2018 one of the worst years in the last decade for accidents in Indian shipyards.

Another 20 workers died while 12 people were severely injured in shipyards in Bangladesh. In Pakistan, local sources have confirmed that one person died while 27 others were injured. Seven injuries were connected to another fire that broke out on board a tanker that sailed onto a beach.
Due to economic slowdown in the oil and gas sector, the organization has documented an increase in offshore units being scrapped in recent years. Of the 138 offshore units that were scrapped in 2018, 96 ended up on beaches in South Asia.

Maritime Danmark