Green Ships

General Harms

Ships serve many purposes, primarily to transport consumer goods. Ship owners unquestionably attempt to keep their ships in excellent condition both to refrain from expensive repair costs and to maximize its usage. Ships life span 20-25 years, end of 2000 average age of ships in cargo fleet was 19 years. It is more profitable for ship owners to recycle ships after about 20 years due to high cost of repairs and modifications to further extend life of ship. Difficult, near impossible to find cargo for older ships due to insurance companies refusing insurance coverage on cargo booked ships over 20 years old. To maintain average, 1900 ships to be recycled each year, currently 500-700 ships scrapped annually. Although ship owners go through great care to keep their ships operative, Ships are decommissioned when deemed no longer safe (steel becomes fatigued from rolling during trans-ocean voyages). Though the steel becomes exhausted from extensive use during its lifetime, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and China recycle approximately 89% of ldt scrapped worldwide. Ship recycling costs are comparatively higher in the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) than in Asia because of the strict regulations relating to environmental issues and occupational safety and health issues. Thus, ship-recycling facilities in the EU and the USA are not economically viable. Greenpeace, the GMB union and Peter Mandelson, MP for Hartlepool, joined forces yesterday to urge the government to scrap all Britain's redundant warships at home instead of allowing the work to be done on beaches in south-east Asia. (Vidal) While recycling ships is an excellent way to reuse and save materials for future use, especially in developing countries, the toxic materials applied to the ships is extremely dangerous if not treated or handled safely. Specifically, Tributyltin (TBT) is a very toxic substance used in anti fouling paints which is applied to the hulls of ships. Use of anti fouling paints containing TBT has been banned since 2003. The harmful effects from TBT on environmental and marine life was widely known, but due to it's large economic benefits and early implementation into paints, many of the ships were already painted in TBT based anti fouling paints. In 2004, 70-80% of world’s fleet covered in TBT self polishing copolymer paints, which led to important economic benefits. The ban on the use of TBT in 2003 did not take effect til much later and does not apply to all countries. Though, possible countries not regulated by national or regional legislation will continue to use organotin compounds, specifically in national routes. TBT is largely settled into the sediment when it is anchored or beached. In most cases, ports and shipyards are near urban areas and presence disturbs activities such as recreation and fishing.

Transport of Toxins

TBT

Tributlytin is a an organotin compound, one of most hazardous in marine environment with tin is basic substance in TBT. The implementation of TBT in anti-fouling paints was introduced in the 1950's. Tin, basic substance of TBT, is effective longer periods than copper which was normal additive at the time, but more poisonous and made it possible to postpone the need to repaint. TBT was used on ship hulls to prevent attachment of marine organisms to hulls, “fouling.” The TBT based anti fouling paints proved to be very effective in preventing organisms from attaching to the hull of the ships. More importantly, these organisms were poisoned once attached to the hull and proceed to detach from the hull and become vulnerable once back in the body of water. Tributyltin is extremely stable and resistant to natural degradation in water, making TBT very toxic to adequate environments. The marine life that becomes attached to the ships or becomes sustenance to other marine life face severe physiological effects. An endocrine disrupting chemical causing severe reproductive defects in aquatic organisms (tightly regulated in developed nations). TBT is very dangerous for many types of marine life. TBT compounds most toxic for Gram-positive bacteria, fish algae, mussels, mollusks and fungi. The contaminated marine life that is detached from the ship's hull not only becomes nourishment for other sea animals, but for humans as well causing adverse health effects. Consumption of contaminated seafood by humans can cause severe skin and mucous membranes irritation. The ship's hull is rubbed against the sediment most when it is closer to shore and anchored. Most severely contaminated sites were commercial harbours and shipyards. In a study conducted in the Puget Sound in Washington state, there were many high levels of TBT and contaminated marine life discovered. The worst contamination was at Anacortes shipyard and at site 1.3 km from it. Many mollusks were found to have been physically altered due to the high level of TBT in the sediment. High imposex scores from shores close to Port of Seattle, which has complex shipyards and harbors. Though the Port of Seattle has multiple shipyards and harbors, many other harbors were also found to have TBT contaminated sediment. Chemical and biological measures were at background levels within less than 2 km from shipyard in Anacortes and less than 8km from Port of Seattle. Though many countries have banned the use of TBT due to its dangerous effects on environmental and aquatic life, many countries lack strict or clear guidelines on the restriction or use of TBT. Increased recognition of problems with TBT, several countries in mid 1980’s implemented national legislation with specific intentions of limiting use of TBT. Though there was no required restrictions for banning TBT, fortunately, some countries took it upon themselves to apply their own set of guidelines. As concentration of TBT in water and sediment remained alarmingly high, mainly from pollution from ships flying non-Japanese flags, Japan actively imposed an international ban on TBT antifouling. After 1988, state action was unnecessary to prohibit the use of TBT, which most likely accounts for the lack of TBT-specific legislation in the other states. Furthermore, because antifouling paints are generally considered pesticides subject to regulation under a state’s generic pesticide laws, specific legislation banning TBT may be considered redundant in some states. Though TBT paints more expensive, economic effects and arguments did not stop the quick change.

Polychlorinated Biphenyl's (PCB)

Ships are composed of many different components, many of which are covered in toxic substances that are dangerous to human health when they are in use and more so when they are removed as the toxic substances are being displaced. PCB’s can be found in electrical components, cables, vent ducts, misc. gaskets, insulation materials, adhesives, paint, and various rubber and plastic components. It is imperative PCB's be handled appropriately and safely to ensure environmental and human safety. Exposure to PCB’s creates significant risk of developing various cancers, affect immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems. Like TBT, PCB's adversely affect human health through the exposure of the substance as well as ingestion of contaminated marine life. Most carciogenic PCB’s tend to build up in flesh of fish and other animals, those who eating contaminated fish face even greater health threat than shipwrecking industry workers. To protect environment, PCB’s must be properly incinerated or stored in special landfills where they will not leach into groundwater. Like many other toxic substances used, it seems the easy solution is to discontinue the use, however, the necessity for PCB's is needed until an alternative substance can be found. PCB’s used for high heat resistance, inflammability, chemical stability, and high boiling point.

Lead

Lead has been known and proven to cause severely dangerous effects on humans. In knowing the extremely harmful effects lead has on humans, it is continued to be used on parts commonly used in vessels. Lead is found in batteries, paints, and components of motors, generators, piping, and cables. Lead has many similar and different detrimental effets on children and adults. Health effects of lead exposure in children cause: learning difficulties, mental retardation, delayed neurological and physical development. In adults, lead affects the nervous system, impairing hearing, vision, and muscle coordination.

Bilge Water

Bilge water is an oily waste which is an accumulation of potentially polluting liquids in lowest part of ships hull. During the mothballing or dismantling process, bilge water increases because of accumulated rainwater, cooling water, and containment water and used during ship breaking process. Bilge water contains a mixture of toxic substances that are applied to the ship and it's components. Bilge water contains oil, cargo residues, inorganix salts, arsenic, copper, chromium, lead, and mercury (often spilt into ocean during shipwrecking process). Oil and other wastes threaten overall health and survival or many species and organisms, some of which are endangered.

Asbestos

Asbestos is another serious mineral that threatens human health when inhaled. Asbestos can be found in ship insulation, asbestos fibers pose serious health risk (cancers and lung diseases) to workers who inhale the fibers. Asbestos only known cause of mesothelioma which is cancer of lungs, chest cavity, and abdomen.

Occupational

Many of the ship-breaking facilities are located in developing countries, though unfortunately, many of the ship-breaking sites are more concerned with the profitability of the steel and ship parts than with the safety of the ship-breaking process. Subsequently, occupational safety and health issues emerge—particularly in association with the dismantling of beached ships in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Ship-breaking is a very dangerous process which entails exposure to harmful toxins, heavy, falling parts, and requires precaution using difficult tools. Ship recycling workers in these countries do not wear protective equipment such as: helmets, masks, goggles, and no signs of danger. In addition to the lack of safety equipment, there is no required training or supplied training to educate the workers of the potential harms involved with the ship-breaking operation. Majority of workers have no training with blowtorches or with hazardous substances involved in ship recycling. Moreover, the risk for inhaling noxious substances continues through the ship-breaking process and after when the parts are displaced. Toxic fumes released during blowtorch cutting process and afterwards paint and coatins continue to smolder. Unfortunately, there is no structured training or protective equipment given to the ship breaking workers in these developing countries such as the ship breaking site in Alang, India, for that reason it is not uncommon for them to suffer from major accidents. The use in ship breaking in developing countries is especially harmful in terms of child labor laws due to lack of guidelines in Bangladesh.

Environmental

Many ships are covered in hazardous substances that endanger the environment. Carcinogenic and toxic substances such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls ("PCBs"), asbestos, tributanlytin ("TBT"), lead, oil, and polluted ship water are released directly into the ocean. Though the use of TBT base anti-fouling paints have long been banned, the lingering effects of TBT are vry dangerous. Sediment contamination still in effect and endangers marine and estuarine quality of environment. Many studies have discovered an existence of TBT in commonly used waterways and a large presence of TBT in the sediment near ports. Typically, navigation channels show low levels of TBT compared to sediments in harbor locations, specifically close to dockyards. The use of TBT was to discourage the adhesion of marine life to the ship's hull, suggestively to preserve the lifetime of the marine organisms. Marine biofouling defined as undesirable accumulation of marine organisms on solid surfaces, i.e. ships hull or mechanical equipment, immersed in seawater. No matter the reasoning behind the application of TBT, the lasting effects, regardless of how minimal, are gravely destructive to the environment. Extremely low concentrations of TBT still greatly affect marine organisms. 1ng of TBT cause imposex and intersex on snails. In order to control the exposure of TBT within the sediment and during the ship-breaking process, many different environmentally safe processes will need to be invoked. In ports, TBT is released to marine environment via ship hulls and only measure to prevent is replace with environmental friendly antifouling systems. Although, little or no reduction of TBT concentrations were seen in sediments even after several years after TBT prohibition.

Ship breaking Regulations

Conventions of Interest Subpage -->