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Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard: One of the largest ship-breaking yards in the world, where workers risk everything

Near the port city of Chittagong in Bangladesh lies one of the largest ship-breaking yards in the world. The Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard stretches for 20 km along the coast on the Bay of Bengal, where more than 200,000 Bangladeshis break down up to 100 ships a year, ferrying millions of tons of goods across the globe.

A massive graveyard for decommissioned ships and tankers. By Taisirrahman CC BY-SA 3.0
A massive graveyard for decommissioned ships and tankers. By Taisirrahman/CC BY-SA 3.0

 

The ships range from passenger cruisers, to container- and bulk carriers to (oil) tankers. By Naquib Hossain Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The ships range from passenger cruisers to container- and bulk carriers to (oil) tankers. By Naquib Hossain/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Ship-breaking is the dismantling of end-of-life ships with the aim of recycling its materials. 1- By Naquib Hossain Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0 2-By Naquib Hossain Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
Ship-breaking is the dismantling of end-of-life ships with the aim of recycling its materials. 1- By Naquib Hossain/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0 2-By Naquib Hossain/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Shipbreaking is a challenging process, due to the structural complexity of the ships and the environmental, safety and health issues involved.

Conducted on a dismantling yard, it involves a wide range of activities. From removing all the gear and equipment that are on the ships to cutting down and recycling the ship’s infrastructure.

Ship-breaking in Bangladesh is centred around Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
Shipbreaking in Bangladesh is centred around Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Workers at Chittagong ship breaking yard. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
Workers at Chittagong ship breaking yard. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

The average pay for a worker inside a ship-breaking yard in Bangladesh is just a few dollars per day. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The average pay for a worker inside a ship-breaking yard in Bangladesh is just a few dollars per day. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

Heavy physical labour is necessary as the workers lack the proper machinery. Workers rip apart ships with their bare hands and a blowtorch to assist, dissecting the ship, bolt by bolt, rivet by rivet.

The work is extremely difficult, and low-paid workers, many of whom are children, face significant risks from the dangerous conditions and exposure to materials like asbestos and toxic heavy metals.

More than 200,000 people work on the site. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
More than 200,000 people work on the site. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

The ships are full of toxic waste and workers are forced to work without any protection. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The ships are full of toxic waste and workers are forced to work without any protection. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
Workers have neither protective equipment nor financial security. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
Workers have neither protective equipment nor financial security. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

In 1960, after a severe cyclone, the Greek ship M D-Alpine was stranded on the shores of Sitakunda, Chittagong. It could not be re-floated so remained there for several years. In 1965, Chittagong Steel House bought the ship and scrapped it. It took years to scrap the vessel, but the work gave birth to the industry in Bangladesh.

The industry began with a cyclone in 1960, when a storm left a Greek cargo ship stranded on the shores of Sitakunda,Chittagong. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The industry began with a cyclone in 1960, when a storm left a Greek cargo ship stranded on the shores of Sitakunda,Chittagong. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

The world's largest ship breaking industry. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The world’s largest ship breaking industry. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, a Pakistani ship “Al-Abbas“ was damaged by bombing, and later on, the ship was salvaged by a Soviet team and brought to the Fauzdarhat seashore. A local company, Karnafully Metal Works Ltd bought it as scrap in 1974, introducing commercial shipbreaking in Bangladesh.

The industry grew steadily through the 1980s and, by the middle of the 1990s, the country ranked number two in the world by tonnage scrapped. Today it has become a large and profitable industry for Bangladesh.

The industry flourished during the 1980s. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The industry flourished during the 1980s. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Shipbreakers use a metal rope to drag large sections cut from the hull closer to shore. By Stéphane M Grueso CC BY-SA 2.0
Shipbreakers use a metal rope to drag large sections cut from the hull closer to shore. By Stéphane M Grueso/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

The steel accounts for half of all the steel in Bangladesh. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
The steel accounts for half of all the steel in Bangladesh. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

In 2008, there were 26 ship breaking yards in the area, and in 2009 there were 40. From 2004 to 2008, the area was the largest ship-breaking yard in the world. However, by 2012 work at the yard accounted for just one-fifth of the global shipbreaking industry, down from a whopping 50%.

Bangladesh's steel supply comes almost entirely from the shipbreaking industry. By Stéphane M. Grueso Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
Bangladesh’s steel supply comes almost entirely from the shipbreaking industry. By Stéphane M. Grueso/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

 

a local watchdog group claims that one worker dies a week on average. By Naquib Hossain Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
A local watchdog group claims that one worker dies a week on average. By Naquib Hossain/Flickr/CC BY-S

 

At one stage the industry was a tourist attraction, but outsiders are no longer welcome due to its poor safety record. By Naquib Hossain Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
At one stage the industry was a tourist attraction, but outsiders are no longer welcome due to its poor safety record. By Naquib Hossain/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0

It is estimated that at least 30 men died during 2011-12 alone. Most accidents are related to falling from heights, getting crushed by falling steel or by exploding tanks. Environmental groups have raised alarms for years over the continued release of toxins into the environment from these shipyards.

David Goran

David Goran is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News