Breaking Yard Research Articles

Globaler Schrott

Global Scrap: Global destruction networks, the production of space and socio-economic structures of the Pakistani ship breaking industry. Every year, hundreds of discarded vessels are broken up at South Asian ship breaking yards, including Chittagong in Bangladesh, Alang in India and Gadani in Pakistan. These (waste) flows of end-of-life vessels are being sent from the global north, notably the European Union, to the global south (Indian Subcontinent). This contribution follows the movement of value through global destruction networks by focusing on the Pakistani ship breaking industry at Gadani Beach and linking its significance for the local and national economy to both global processes as well as to labour conditions and environmental problem.

A critical scenario analysis of end-of-life ship disposal

Purpose – This paper aims to critically engage with the premise of development at the “bottom of the pyramid” through consideration of the current and potential future status of the workers who dismantle end-of-life ships in the breaking yards of “less developed countries”, here with specific reference to the dynamic situation in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach – The study applies “critical scenario method” (CSM) to explore different possible and plausible futures for the ship-breaking industry globally and locally. Findings – The paper argues that the status of the workers in the ship-breaking industry of Bangladesh can be conceptualised as firmly set at the “bottom of the pyramid”, and that, for most if not all, this situation cannot be changed within any industry future without wider, radical change to socioeconomic and political structures both in the country and globally. Originality/value – This paper offers a contribution to the discourse on consumption at the “bottom of the pyramid” as a development process.

Response of bacterial community structure to seasonal fluctuation and anthropogenic pollution on coastal water of Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Bhavnagar, India.

Bacterial community structure was analyzed from coastal water of Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard (ASSBY), world's largest ship breaking yard, near Bhavnagar, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (cultured dependent and culture independent). In clone libraries, total 2324 clones were retrieved from seven samples (coastal water of ASSBY for three seasons along with one pristine coastal water) which were grouped in 525 operational taxonomic units. Proteobacteria was found to be dominant in all samples. In pristine samples, Gammaproteobacteria was found to be dominant, whereas in polluted samples dominancy of Gammaproteobacteria has shifted to Betaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria. Richness and diversity indices also indicated that bacterial community in pristine sample was the most diverse followed by summer, monsoon and winter samples. To the best of knowledge, this is the first study describing bacterial community structure from coastal water of ASSBY, and it suggests that seasonal fluctuation and anthropogenic pollutions alters the bacterial community structure.

Biodegradation of phenanthrene in bioaugmented microcosm by consortium ASP developed from coastal sediment of Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard

A phenanthrene-degrading bacterial consortium (ASP) was developed using sediment from the Alang-Sosiya shipbreaking yard at Gujarat, India. 16S rRNA gene-based molecular analyses revealed that the bacterial consortium consisted of six bacterial strains: Bacillus sp. ASP1, Pseudomonas sp. ASP2, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain ASP3, Staphylococcus sp. ASP4, Geobacillus sp. ASP5 and Alcaligenes sp. ASP6. The consortium was able to degrade 300 ppm of phenanthrene and 1000 ppm of naphthalene within 120 h and 48 h, respectively. Tween 80 showed a positive effect on phenanthrene degradation. The consortium was able to consume maximum phenanthrene at the rate of 46 mg/h/l and degrade phenanthrene in the presence of other petroleum hydrocarbons. A microcosm study was conducted to test the consortium's bioremediation potential. Phenanthrene degradation increased from 61% to 94% in sediment bioaugmented with the consortium. Simultaneously, bacterial counts and dehydrogenase activities also increased in the bioaugmented sediment. These results suggest that microbial consortium bioaugmentation may be a promising technology for bioremediation.

Technological and economic study of ship recycling in Egypt

The ship recycling industry is growing rapidly. It is estimated that the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) decision to phase-out single hull tankers by 2015 will result in hundreds of ships requiring disposal. At present, the ship recycling industry is predominantly based in South Asia. Due to the bad practice of current scrapping procedure, the paper will highlight the harm occurring to health, safety and environment. The efforts of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) which led to the signing of the Hong Kong International Convention are also reviewed. The criteria and standards required to reduce the risk and damage to the environment are discussed and a proposed plan for the safe scrapping of ships is then presented. A technological and economic study for the ship recycling in Egypt is carried out as a case study. This includes the ship recycling facility size and layout. The equipment and staff required to operate the facility are also evaluated. A cost analysis is then carried out. This includes site development, human resources, machineries and equipment. A fuzzy logic approach is used to assess the benefits of the ship breaking yard. The use of the fuzzy logic approach is found suitable to make decisions for the ship breaking industry. Based on given constraints, the proposed model has proved capable of assessing the profit and the internal rate of return.

Technological and economic study of ship recycling in Egypt

The ship recycling industry is growing rapidly. It is estimated that the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) decision to phase-out single hull tankers by 2015 will result in hundreds of ships requiring disposal. At present, the ship recycling industry is predominantly based in South Asia. Due to the bad practice of current scrapping procedure, the paper will highlight the harm occurring to health, safety and environment. The efforts of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) which led to the signing of the Hong Kong International Convention are also reviewed. The criteria and standards required to reduce the risk and damage to the environment are discussed and a proposed plan for the safe scrapping of ships is then presented. A technological and economic study for the ship recycling in Egypt is carried out as a case study. This includes the ship recycling facility size and layout. The equipment and staff required to operate the facility are also evaluated. A cost analysis is then carried out. This includes site development, human resources, machineries and equipment. A fuzzy logic approach is used to assess the benefits of the ship breaking yard. The use of the fuzzy logic approach is found suitable to make decisions for the ship breaking industry. Based on given constraints, the proposed model has proved capable of assessing the profit and the internal rate of return.

Monitoring the drastic growth of ship breaking yards in Sitakunda: a threat to the coastal environment of Bangladesh

The vast coastal and marine resources that occur along the southern edge of Bangladesh make it one of the most productive areas of the world. However, due to growing anthropogenic impacts, this area is under considerable environmental pressure from both physical and chemical stress factors. Ship breaking, or the dismantling and demolition of out-of-service ocean-going vessels, has become increasingly common in many coastal areas. To investigate the extent of ship breaking activities in Bangladesh along the Sitakunda coast, various spatial and non-spatial data were obtained, including remote sensing imagery, statistical records and published reports. Impacts to coastal and marine life were documented. Available data show that ship breaking activities cause significant physical disturbance and release toxic materials into the environment, resulting in adverse effects to numerous marine taxonomic groups such as fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, plants, phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic invertebrates. Landsat imagery illustrates that the negatively impacted coastal area has grown 308.7 % from 367 ha in 1989 to 1,133 ha in 2010. Physicochemical and biological properties of coastal soil and water indicate substantially elevated pollution that poses a risk of local, regional and even global contamination through sea water and atmospheric transport. While damage to the coastal environment of Bangladesh is a recognized hazard that must be addressed, the economic benefits of ship breaking through job creation and fulfilling the domestic demand for recycled steel must be considered. Rather than an outright ban on beach breaking of ships, the enterprise must be recognized as a true and influential industry that should be held responsible for developing an economically viable and environmentally proactive growth strategy. Evolution of the industry toward a sustainable system can be aided through reasonable and enforceable legislative and judicial action that takes a balanced approach, but does not diminish the value of coastal conservation.

Naphthalene degradation by bacterial consortium (DV-AL) developed from Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Gujarat, India

Naphthalene degrading bacterial consortium (DV-AL) was developed by enrichment culture technique from sediment collected from the Alang-Sosiya ship breaking yard, Gujarat, India. The 16S rRNA gene based molecular analyzes revealed that the bacterial consortium (DV-AL) consisted of four strains namely, Achromobacter sp. BAB239, Pseudomonas sp. DV-AL2, Enterobacter sp. BAB240 and Pseudomonas sp. BAB241. Consortium DV-AL was able to degrade 1000ppm of naphthalene in Bushnell Haas medium (BHM) containing peptone (0.1%) as co-substrate with an initial pH of 8.0 at 37°C under shaking conditions (150rpm) within 24h. Maximum growth rate and naphthalene degradation rate were found to be 0.0389h−1 and 80mgh−1, respectively. Consortium DV-AL was able to utilize other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, phenol, carbazole, petroleum oil, diesel fuel, and phenanthrene and 2-methyl naphthalene as sole carbon source. Consortium DV-AL was also efficient to degrade naphthalene in the presence of other pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals.

Improved sensitive detection of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in water samples at electrodeposited silver nanonuts on a glassy carbon electrode

Silver nanonuts (AgNns) with controlled size were electrodeposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface using a double pulse potentiostatic technique for simultaneous detection of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in water samples without removal of oxygen, surfactant and other metal ions. The AgNns decorated GCE electrode showed improved sensitivity and reproducibility in comparison with previously reported electrodes. The detection limits were 0.15 ppb and 0.10 ppb for Pb2+ and Cd2+, respectively. Finally, the practical application of the proposed method was verified in waste water samples taken from the Alang ship breaking yard located in Gujarat (India).

Experiences with Some Toxic and Relatively Accessible Heavy Metals on the Survival and Biomass Production of Amphora costata W. Smith

Amphora costata W. Smith 1853 is a down thrown diatom species and also known as metal corrosive ship-fouling organism. A. costata was isolated from Alang ship breaking yard, Alang and evaluated the toxicity tolerance and growth responses of the cultures exposed to different doses of toxic and relatively accessible heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in the constantly monitored laboratory culture conditions. The strongest toxic effect was observed on A. costata exposed to Cd even at relatively low concentrations as compared to other metals . The following trend of decreasing order of toxicity i.e. Cd>Zn>Ni>Co>Pb>Cu>Fe was observed, when they were exposed to equal concentration and expose time.

Seasonal distribution and contamination levels of total PHCs, PAHs and heavy metals in coastal waters of the Alang–Sosiya ship scrapping yard, Gulf of Cambay, India

Alang–Sosiya situated on the Gulf of Cambay is one of the largest ship breaking yard in the world. The seasonal distribution and contamination levels of dissolved and/or dispersed total petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in seawater during high tide are investigated. The concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals are higher in the winter than in the monsoon and summer. The concentrations of total PHCs and PAHs are about three times higher in the winter and two times in the monsoon or summer at Along–Sosiya and about twice in all seasons at two stations one on either side 5 km away from it as compared to the reference station at Mahuva, 60 km away towards the south. Further, the levels of PHCs are correlated with salinity and compared with those of other regions. The concentration of all metals is the highest in the winter season followed by the monsoon and summer. We carried out the quantitative analysis of the possible relationships among 13 variables such as Al, Fe, Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Co, pH, NO 3 - , NO 2 and PO 4 3 - .

Fiberglass dermatitis

Dismantling end-of-life ships in an environmentally sound and safe manner is of great concern as well as being a major challenge nowadays. When dismantling the vessel, on-board hazardous materials such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), glass fibre, solid foam and waste oil can incur severe negative implications on the environment and human health. The characteristics and harm of on-board hazardous materials are profiled in this paper. Current removal and disposal methods of hazardous materials are analysed. Further practical measures and suggestions to deal with the hazardous materials in the ship breaking yards are proposed. Two case studies about green disposal of the main hazardous materials during shipbreaking are presented. Both of the two companies are following Hong Kong Convention and verified by DNV-GL classification, which makes the recycling procedures of hazardous materials are quite similar to each other. In essence, more attention should be paid to the disposal of hazardous materials as integral to safe and environmentally sound practices when breaking the ships.