Analyzing Sustainability Concepts in the Maritime Industry: A Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability within the maritime industry. It begins by highlighting the importance of maritime transport in global trade and its role in poverty reduction while also acknowledging the environmental impact. The report delves into the issues surrounding the ship recycling industry, emphasizing the hazardous nature of the work, environmental pollution, and the health risks faced by workers. It details the current shipbreaking processes, including the dismantling stages and the separation of valuable materials. Furthermore, the report examines strategies for addressing these challenges, such as adopting best environmental practices, adhering to regulations like the Hong Kong Convention, and implementing mobile decontamination units. It also compares historical shipbuilding methods with modern techniques, highlighting the evolution of materials and processes. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for sustainable practices to protect workers and the environment.

Concepts of Sustainability in
Maritime Industry
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Issues related to ship recycling industry..........................................................................................1
Condition of workers in ship recycling industry.............................................................................1
How ships are breakup currently in ship recycling industry...........................................................2
Ways of dealing with circumstances of ship recycling industry.....................................................2
Comparison of ways of making ships in the past and present.........................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
INTRODUCTION
In the context of maritime transport, it can be said that it is known as the backbone of world trade
because there are several businesses that are being done with this transport (Carzaniga, 2017).
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Ships carry cargoes to all corners of the globe 24 hours a day. It has decreased poverty because,
with its help or transportation, millions of people are getting or having access to basic materials,
products, and goods. Maritime transport and industry will be indispensable in a sustainable
future global economy because it is the most effective and environmentally mass transport.
Issues related to the shipping recycling industry
It is stated and can be said that the ship recycling industry is one of the hazardous industries
because of the structural complexity of ships; it becomes difficult to make built ships. It also
takes a huge toll on the health of workers (Hossain, 2017). It is one of the polluting industries as
well. In this recycling industry of ships, each part of it is being sent for reuse which is good. But
on the flip side, it can also be said that it involves several issues like labor safety/health,
environmental issues which is the big matter of criticism and sustainability. In the context of the
main challenge and issue occur is harm to the environment. At the time of the recycling process,
oil residues and other refuse from ships are mixed with soil as well as water on the beach which
causes pollution of the marine environment to the great extent (Ozturkoglu, Kazancoglu, and
Ozkan-Ozen, 2019). In this context, it is stated that many people consider maritime industry and
transport is effective and environmentally because of its low energy consumption as well as air
emission. But there are several activities related to ship building and in this industry which is
increasing pollution at beaches and water sources. It is one of the main sustainability problems.
This problem can decrease demand in ships and products related to it.
Rather, all these issues, there are some other factors that are associated with this industry or
which create some barriers in the path of its successful recycling process. All these factors
include freight prices of movement because the recycling process is being done in only a few
countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Spain, Belgium, etc. Scrap prices steel price movement.
Intense competition from global peers and big industries, high hedging cost and forex risk,
regulatory risks, etc.
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Condition of workers in the ship recycling industry
In the context of the ship recycling industry, it can be said that it has now become a vital
component of the country’s economy. It provides employment to a great extent which leads to
profitability and improvement of the condition of the economy. But on the other hand, in the
context of the condition of workers in this industry, it can be said that workers do not feel safe as
they put their lives in danger. The ship recycling industry has grown or developed into major
environmental as well as occupational health problems in the world. There are high levels of
injuries, fatalities and work-related problems (Ozturkoglu, Kazancoglu and Ozkan-Ozen, 2019).
One of the main reasons for this condition of workers is there is a lack of training among workers
as they do not have proper knowledge about the importance of using safety and protective
equipment. They have knowledge and skills as whet they have to do in the process of ship
recycle but still, they become careless and do not make effective use of protective equipment. So,
it can be said that improper and inadequate safety controls, the ineffective monitoring processes
of work operations of workers make the working environment more dangerous. It can also be
said that workers in this industry have a lack of access to health services and inadequate housing
due to lack of finance which creates all these problems.
How ships are breakup currently in the ship recycling industry
Breaking or recycling ships is not an easy task as it is a long and hazardous process. For
recycling or breaking a ship, it takes around 2 weeks or 14 days. It is a clean and slow sweep
process in which workers often use or have to use torches and sheer elbow grease to diminish the
ship. It takes around 2 weeks to 1 year to dismantle a ship. The process of breaking up a ship or
recycling a ship starts with cleaning up in which subcontractors came on the board the ship in
order to strip it of loose items. All these items are being sold in second-hand shops. After that
cutting of each part of the ship, cutting crews start to take to pieces the hull. All large sections of
the ship cut off the ship and due to heavyweight, all these cutting parts are being moved via
cranes (Gunbeyaz, Kurt and Baumler, 2019).
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The ship has some valuable metals and materials which need to be separated and in the
process of recycling, so all valuable metals like copper of electric cable are mixed with other
important materials in order to recover them by making effective use of shredders in the process.
After that shredders cut electronics in both metallic and nonmetallic pieces. All large objects and
valuable metals like engine parts are extracted and then resold in order to make them accessible.
Metal is being separated by making use of magnetic separators (Yang and et.al., 2019).
Ways of dealing with circumstances of the ship recycling industry
It is already stated that the ship recycling process is a difficult and hazardous the process so, it is
important to deal with all problems and circumstances which occur in order to make it
successful. There are some strategies and ways by which all these problems are being solved
such as: Using the best environmental practices (BEP). One of the BEP is systematic prevention
and mitigation of safety and environmental risks at yard facilities (Arvidsson Kvissberg, 2018).
There are some codes and court ruling regulations that are being developed or framed by
agencies that support ship recycling industry to complete the process in an efficient manner. One
of the best ways of dealing with problems associated with shipbreaking industry are following
guidelines of EU regulations and Hong Kong international convention for safe as well as
environmentally sound breaking process of ships. All these interventions and regulations are
being made by considering the safety factors of workers. It is called the HKC (Hong Kong
Convention). As per the regulations, all industries are bound to keep their freight process stable
in order to develop this industry and removing all problems (Rahman and et.al., 2018).
Another main effective way to solve problems in the ship recycling process is making
effective and compulsory use of mobile decontamination units which helps this industry to
respond and control pollution. Large mobile cranes and beach cleaning wheel loaders and tank
cleaning barge also support in reducing problems.
Comparison of ways of making ships in the past and present
There are several changes in ways or processes of making or building ships in the past and in the
present. There are changes because of the materials used in the process. Nowadays, principle
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materials which industry uses include: aluminum alloys, steels, and composites. All these
materials help this industry in making effective ship structure and design and making the process
successful. Nowadays, this industry considers all important elements which include physical,
technological, environmental, legal and economic laws.
Present ways of shipbuilding: Nowadays ships are being made in a dry dock but if they want
then they can make it on a huge ramp. In this process, it is released for a completely uncontrolled
slide into the water. It means that they pull triggers once which release which mechanism and
keep all ships from sliding at the time of the construction process (Pomeranz and Topik, 2017).
There is no control and no brakes which Keep the ship from sliding away during construction, it
is gone. No controls, no steering, no until all of its around 45 thousand tons hit the water as 5
tugboats lie in wait to catch it then guide it to the pier for the rest of its outfitting until it's a
complete and functional ship. In addition, in the context of modern way of building ships, it can
be said that it takes place where there ships building are specialized and that place is known for
only ship building. By following specialized occupation which traces its roots to before recorded
history. They are mainly built from steel in order to make them strong.
Ways used in the past of shipbuilding: There are several techniques which were used in the
past for building or making the ship. Some techniques include the lashed plank, log, sewn, frame
first, etc. Out of all, one of the best techniques which often were used is frame first. This
technique was labor-intensive. One of the main differences between ways of making ships in the
past and the present is the vessels of ancient times. In this technique, the builder used to visualize
the hull in regard to framing. After making it in skeleton shape, they used to fasten the planking
to it. After that, they inserted the framing. It can be said that other main difference was, in
ancient time and in the past, builders do not make use of technology. Nowadays, builders
effectively use technology which makes the process easy, successful and also saves time
(Helfman, Nishri, and Cvikel, 2018).
CONCLUSION
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From the above assignment, it can be concluded the ship recycling industry is developing day by
day and playing a vital role in improving the economy. On the other hand, this study has also
shown some negative points of this industry as it is one of the most dangerous or hazardous
industries in which the shipbreaking process can create several problems for workers. Workers
work in dangerous and hazardous industry as it can affect their health to the great extent. It
become important for them to always wear safety equipment. Further, it has discussed ways as to
how currently ships are being made as compared to the past in which ships used to make. By
showing modern ways of shipbuilding and making use of technology this study has discussed
ways of solving problems related to this industry.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Carzaniga, A., 2017. III. 45 Maritime Transport Services. In Elgar Encyclopedia of International
Economic Law (pp. 456-456). Edward Elgar Publishing.
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Gunbeyaz, S.A., Kurt, R.E., and Baumler, R., 2019. A study on evaluating the status of current
occupational training in the ship recycling industry in Bangladesh. WMU Journal of
Maritime Affairs. 18(1). pp.41-59.
Helfman, N., Nishi, B. and Cvikel, D., 2018. A comparative structural analysis of shell-first and
frame-based ship hulls of the 1st millennium AD. Naval Engineers Journal. 130(1).
pp.91-103.
Hossain, K.A., 2017. Ship Recycling Practice and Annual Reusable Material Output from
Bangladesh Ship Recycling Industry. Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy
and Applications. 7(5). p.6.
Ozturkoglu, Y., Kazancoglu, Y. and Ozkan-Ozen, Y.D., 2019. A sustainable and preventative
risk management model for the ship recycling industry. Journal of Cleaner
Production. 238. p.117907.
Pomeranz, K. and Topik, S., 2017. The world that trade created: society, culture, and the world
economy, 1400 to the present. Routledge.
Rahman, S.M. and et.al., 2018. Uncovering discursive framings of the Bangladesh shipbreaking
industry. Social Sciences. 7(1). p.14.
Yang, Z. and et.al., 2019. The impact of ship scrapping subsidies on fleet renewal decisions in
dry bulk shipping. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation
Review. 126. pp.177-189.
Arvidsson Kvissberg, K., 2018. Taking Responsibility: A Multi-Stakeholder Evaluation of the
Shipbreaking and Ship Recycling Industry in South Asia. IIIEE Master Thesis.
Ozturkoglu, Y., Kazancoglu, Y. and Ozkan-Ozen, Y.D., 2019. A sustainable and preventative
risk management model for ship recycling industry. Journal of Cleaner Production. 238.
p.117907.
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