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More Than 230 Giant Ships Arrive Annually at the Ship Graveyard in Chittagong, Generating Millions of Tons of Recycled Steel, But at the Cost of Inhumane Conditions, Child Exploitation, and Severe Environmental Damage.
A steel giant, which sailed the oceans for decades, ending its days stranded on a beach. In Chittagong, Bangladesh, this is more than a metaphor – it is a daily reality. This shipyard, considered the largest “ship graveyard” in the world, dismantles these colossal vessels, but at what cost? Behind the recycled steel, there are stories of human exploitation and devastating environmental impact.
The Life Cycle of the Sea Giants
Ships have an average lifespan of 30 years. After that, the maintenance cost outweighs the benefits. When they reach this point, companies must decide: modernize or send the ship to be scrapped.
Ship recycling, when done correctly, is sustainable. A large portion of the vessels can be reused, from steel to electronic components. However, in places like Chittagong, recycling takes on worrying contours.
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While cities suffocate with smoke and fields burn worthless straw, India transforms sugarcane bagasse, non-recyclable plastic, and agricultural residue into bricks to build cheaper rural housing.
Chittagong: The Largest Ship Graveyard in the World
In the 1960s, stranded boats initiated this practice. By the 1980s, Chittagong had established itself as the main ship dismantling destination. Today, more than 230 vessels arrive annually, producing millions of tons of recycled steel.
The activity generates jobs for hundreds of thousands of people, but at a high cost. Many workers face dangerous conditions, while the environment suffers from contamination.
The Ship Dismantling Process
The process should be simple: remove fuels and chemicals, dismantle electronic components, and cut the ship into parts for recycling. But, in Chittagong, the lack of dry docks allows contaminants to leak directly into the soil and sea.
Improper dismantling exposes workers to toxic substances, causing respiratory problems, muscular issues, and even deaths. In 2017, at least nine people died at the shipyard, but no one was held accountable.
A Sustainable Future?
The Hong Kong Convention, created in 2009, seeks to standardize ship dismantling. However, adherence is still low, especially in countries like Bangladesh, where operational cost is a priority.
Some places, like the Aliaga shipyard in Turkey, demonstrate that it is possible to carry out dismantling sustainably, with respect for the environment and the workers.
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