Slide 1

Ship breaking

1What this presentation covers:What ships containImpact on EnvironmentWorking ConditionsBenefits of Ship breaking

2What ships are made out ofOld ships weigh an average of 13,000 tons95% painted steelPaint can include 10 and 100 tons of lead, cadmium, organotins, arsenic, zinc and chromium.Ships also contain PCBs, oils, greases, and asbestos, POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants)Heavy Metals on electrical connections.

3Impact on EnvironmentOil covers the seashores of Bangladesh, harming aquatic life.Also harmful to birds which hunt in the water.Ammonia pollution changes the PH of the seawater, making the water toxic.Metal fragments and rust mix with the sand, making it lose its binding properties increasing erosion.4Working ConditionsFew safety standards/equipment availableChild labor used (10.94% of workforce)Safety equipment not provided (such as hard hats, gloves, shoes/boots, safety glasses)Fall prevention equipment and standards not usedNo minimum wage, no job security, no trainingNo trade unions, no workers rights

5Working Conditions continuedMany die from falling off ships, or materials falling on them.Workers often suffer some sort of injury, from loss of vision, dismemberment, disfigurement, and even death.Workers are exposed to asbestos, lead, heavy metals, poisons, and other toxins that are proven to be deadly.6Video on working conditionshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYPh2g5c-s&NR=1

7Worker CompensationIf worker disabled they receive 10 to 15 thousand taka (1 USD = 71 taka)If worker dies, family receives only 50,000 takaFrom 1965 to 2006 maximum 21K taka for dead, 30K taka for disabledLabor Law Act of 2006 proposed disabled worker will get 100,000 takaAverage daily pay of 50-60 taka for a 12 hour shift8Benefits of ShipbreakingBangladesh doesnt have a source of iron, so shipbreaking provides that.Recycles almost 100% of the ships contents, from furniture to lubricantsGenerates tax income for Bangladesh, nearly 900 million takaProvides employment for those who would otherwise have no employment

9ConclusionShip breaking is a complex industry that has definite pros and cons for those involved.Most push for labor laws and regulation instead of complete abolition of the industry, because of its pros.

10Resourceshttp://www.shipbreakingbd.info/index.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_breakinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYPh2g5c-s&NR=1

11