A Critical Analysis of the Shipbreaking Industry in Bangladesh and Potential Practices for Environmental Sustainability and Worker Health and Safety

Abstract

It has been made evident that in order to improve environmental protection and occupational safety in Bangladesh, it is critical for the country to develop multi-sectoral policy and strategy to promote sustainable shipbreaking practices. It emerges that infrastructures such as hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal facilities (TSDF) are a critical issue that could determine whether or not Bangladesh could continue to operate in the ship breaking and recycling industry (SBRI), even though it does not seem like a current priority for the poverty-stricken country. This chapter aims to examine the current shipbreaking practices in South Asian countries by focusing particularly on Bangladesh and to what extent current practices have impacted the environment and worker health and safety. Primary research was sourced by questionnaires and interviews directed at industry professionals to evaluate whether sustainable shipbreaking practices from “green” yards such as Aliaga, Turkey or Alang, India can be applied in Bangladesh.