This is an interesting video that appeared on the American television show "60 Minutes" back in 2006. It shows how old merchant vessels are beached and cut up in Bangladesh. Ship breaking is a dirty, filthy job, done by the poorest of the poor. Conditions are somewhat improved now thanks to this story, but this is how the vessels of commerce go to die in the east.
These old ships are filled with asbestos, chemicals, fuel and other contaminants that just wind up on the beach and in the ocean. This struck me as a sharp contrast to the conversion of the American aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which was so carefully sanitized prior to sinking as a man-made reef and diving attraction.
Somehow, I dont think the 11,000 TEU, 170,000 metric ton, M/V Emma Maersk will be driven on any beach when her trading days are over.
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Recycling is good. Its how you do it thats important. These ships are being torn down without regard to disposition of the haz materials they contain. That material drains right into the ocean as a pollutant.
The 60 minutes story is about not only that but the labor methods used to tear down the ships.
Having said that, 60 minutes by its nature dumbs down most stories to fit them for the audience and the time allowed. They also tend to go for the controversial angle in anything.
Posted by: eric | July 10, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Some what simplistic view though, as the re-cycling of that ship is very good for the ocean? No?
Posted by: Ross | July 10, 2008 at 11:56 AM