After reaching the end of their service lives, most large ships from around the world are broken up along the coasts of South Asia. Chittagong in Bangladesh is home to the world’s second-largest ship breaking yard. And its recycling practices are far from eco-friendly. Ship breaking activities pose risks to both workers and the coastal regions’ ecosystems.
Studies show that up to 10 percent of a ship’s weight consists of asbestos, heavy metals, oil, and other toxic substances, a lot of which ends up impacting the environment. In the past 20 years alone, 25 species of fish have disappeared from the waters of Chittagong. The workers face dangers too. On paper, the ship breaking yards may be required to equip people with boots, helmets, and gloves, but they rarely do. Consequently, the workers are forced to come up with their own protective gear such as using towels as makeshift masks. Many shipyard workers are reluctant to report these issues to international authorities as they fear losing their jobs.