History
Until the late twentieth century, ship breaking took place in port cities of industrialized countries such as Great Britain and the United States. Today, most ship breaking yards are in other nations, principally Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, due to lower labor costs and less stringent environmental regulations dealing with the disposal of lead paint and other toxic substances. Some "breakers" still remain in the United States. There are also some in Dubai, UAE for tankers. China used to be an important player in the 90s. It is now trying to reposition itself, focusing on the environmental aspect.
A ship that has been scrapped is sometimes colloquially said to have been "made into razor blades."
Health and environmental risks
In addition to steel and other useful materials, however, ships (particularly older vessels) can contain many substances that are banned or considered dangerous in developed countries. Asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are typical examples. Asbestos was used heavily in ship construction until it was finally banned in most of the developed world in the mid 1980s. Currently, the costs associated with removing asbestos, along with the potentially expensive insurance and health risks, have meant that ship-breaking in most developed countries is no longer economically viable. Removing the metal for scrap can potentially cost more than the scrap value of the metal itself. In the developing world, however, shipyards can operate without the risk of personal injury lawsuits or workers' health claims, meaning many of these shipyards may operate with high health risks. Protective equipment is sometimes absent or inadequate. Dangerous vapors and fumes from burning materials can be inhaled, and dusty asbestos-laden areas are commonplace.
Aside from the health of the yard workers, in recent years, ship breaking has also become an issue of major environmental concern. Many ship breaking yards in developing nations have lax or no environmental law, enabling large quantities of highly toxic materials to escape into the environment and causing serious health problems among ship breakers, the local population and wildlife. Environmental campaign groups such as Greenpeace have made the issue a high priority for their campaigns.
As an alternative to ship breaking, many ships are also sunk to make artificial reefs after being cleaned up.
List Of Some Bangladeshi Ship Crackers and Builders
K.M. Chisti Enterprise
Hashim Showdagar Mosjod Building, (1st Floor),
471/472, Strand Road, K.B. Davash Lan, (Infornt of Ispahani Ware House), Goshaildanga
City Chittagong ,Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-31-710894, 726242
Fax +880-31-715588, 710894
Sea Gull Marine Engineers
1815, Mujib Road, Agrabad
City Chittagong
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-31-721459, 711449, 710015
Western Marine Service Ltd.
HBFC Building (10th Floor) Agrabad C/A
City Chittagong - 4100
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-31-712177, 726579
Fax 880-31-720248
Oeanic Group
Syeda Court (2nd Fl.) 28,Agrabad C/A
City Chttagong
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-31-710267, 502245
Fax +80-31-725426
Prantik Marine Services Limited.
Faruk Chamber,( 7th Floor) 1403, SK, Mujib Road
City Chittagong
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-31-710525
Fax +80-31-710526
Website http://www.prantik.net
Sicho Ship Building & Eng. Ltd. (Dhaka office)
City Heart (7th floor), 67 Nayapaltan
City Dhka - 1000
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-2-9346597, 9346950, 8353096
Fax +80-2-9346951
Sicho Ship Building & Eng. Ltd. (Head office)
CDA Annex Bldg (3rd floor), Court Road
City Cittagong - 4100
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-31-615280, 621332, 618235, 01711-748463, 01711-825203, 01711-796129
Fax +880-31-610204
Sicho Ship Building & Eng. Ltd. (Khulna office)
219 KDA, New Market (1st floor)
City Khulna
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-41-725426, 01711-196280
Sicho Ship Building & Eng. Ltd. (Benapole office)
Opp. Custom House, Benapole
City Jessore
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +88-01711-196211
Sicho Ship Building & Eng. Ltd. (Coxs Bazar office)
Peshkar Para
City Coxs Bazar
Country Bangladesh
Telephone +880-341-64094, 01199-739011
