laivanpurku

Laivanpurku, or ship breaking, is the process of dismantling end-of-life ships to salvage usable materials, recycle metals, and manage hazardous components. It typically involves removing fuels, oils, asbestos, and other hazardous substances before cutting the hull and separating steel, aluminum, and other materials.

Most large-scale ship-breaking activity occurs at coastal yards in South Asia, notably in India’s Alang in Gujarat, Pakistan’s Gadani coast, and Bangladesh’s Chittagong region. These yards process a wide range of vessels, from cargo ships to offshore platforms, contributing significantly to local employment and metal supplies, but they have also been the focus of safety and environmental concerns.

The operations follow a sequence of steps: securing the vessel and removing residual fuels; extracting and safely disposing of hazardous materials; cutting the hull into segments with torches or mechanical means; and sorting salvaged metals and other components for recycling or resale. Waste management, air and water pollution controls, and worker safety vary widely by yard.

Economic and social aspects are mixed. Ship breaking provides jobs and a source of inexpensive steel for regional industries, yet it often involves informal labor arrangements, inadequate safety measures, and exposure to hazards such as asbestos, heavy metals, and accidents. Environmental impacts can include soil and water contamination and air emissions from burning and processing.

International regulation seeks safer, more sustainable practices. The Hong Kong Convention aims to ensure environmentally sound recycling of ships, though it has not yet entered into force globally. The EU Ship Recycling Regulation requires ships to be recycled at approved yards with inventories of hazardous materials. The Basel Convention governs cross-border movement of hazardous wastes and related ship recycling practices.