SHIPBREAKING

A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRY

SHIPBREAKING

A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRY

SHIPBREAKING

A DIRTY AND DANGEROUS INDUSTRY

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NGO_Shipbreaking

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform is a global coalition of organisations working to reverse the environmental harm and human rights abuses caused by current shipbreaking practices and to ensure the safe and environmentally sound dismantling of end-of-life ships worldwide.

Just as the goods they transport, ships too become waste when they reach the end of their operational lives. Yet only a fraction is handled in a safe and clean manner. The vast majority of the world's end-of-life fleet, full of toxic substances, is simply broken down - by hand - on the beaches of South Asia. There, unscrupulous shipping companies exploit minimal enforcement of environmental and safety rules to maximise profits.

Ship owners from East Asia and Europe top the list of dumpers that sell ships for breaking on South Asian beaches.

In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan ships are broken apart directly on the beach instead of in an industrial site: a practice known as "beaching".

 

Since 2009:

 

8221
SHIPS BEACHED
474
DEATHS
520
INJURIES
ISSUES OF INTEREST
WHY SHIPS ARE TOXIC
FLAGS OF CONVENIENCE
CHILD LABOUR
CLEAN AND SAFE SOLUTIONS

SPOTLIGHT

The Toxic Tide – 2024 Shipbreaking Records

2024 shipbreaking records: most shipping companies continue to opt for the highest price at the worst scrapping yards.

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Ship recycling in Aliağa under the spotlight

NGOs call on Turkey and the EU to bring needed change and transition the sector towards dry docks.

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Bangladesh: shipping firms profit from labour abuse

A new report released by Human Rights Watch and the NGO Shipbreaking Platform uncovers the human and environmental costs of shipbreaking in Bangladesh.

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Where ships go to die – Winner of the Public Eye Investigation Award

Decommissioned deep-sea vessels are floating toxic waste. Their disposal is laborious and costly, and regarded as a menace by those who want to protect both the workers… Read More

Newsroom

Brussels, Sep 02nd 2025

Press Release – From refurbishment promise to scrapping threat: the Moby Drea controversy

The Italian-flagged ferry MOBY DREA, which left Genoa in July after its owner assured Italian authorities it would be refurbished in Croatia and returned to service, is now… Read More

Brussels, Aug 07th 2025

Press Release – Province shuts down hazardous shipbreaking at Union Bay

  The NGO Shipbreaking Platform celebrates British Columbia’s decision to cancel the Crown land lease held by Deep Water Recovery Ltd. (DWR) in Union Bay, effectively halting… Read More

Brussels, Jul 21st 2025

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #42

Five workers suffered an accident on South Asian beaches in the second quarter of 2025.

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Brussels, Jul 08th 2025

Press Release: Need for reform of ship recycling sector in Turkey has never been more apparent after massive fire and waste dumping scandal revealed

In recent months, Turkey’s ship recycling sector has experienced significant movements. From controversies surrounding the sale of shipbreaking yards to the arrival of a UK Navy vessel,… Read More

Brussels, Jun 26th 2025

Press Release – The Hong Kong Convention provides no roadmap for sustainable ship recycling

Today, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) officially enters into force.

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Brussels, Jun 19th 2025

Platform News– Legal action taken by family of deceased worker following fatal incident at IŞIKSAN ship recycling yard in Turkiye

On 31 August last year, a fatal accident occurred during the dismantling of the Norwegian floating oil platform BIDEFORD DOLPHIN  at the IŞIKSAN ship recycling yard in… Read More

Brussels, Jun 18th 2025

Press Release – Another worker dies at Alang shipbreaking yard

  Just weeks before the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships is set to enter into force on 26 June,… Read More

Brussels, May 06th 2025

Press Release – Rendsburg Court acknowledges environmental harm caused by shipbreaking, but acquits shipowners

  The NGO Shipbreaking Platform welcomes the Public prosecutor’s appeal of the Rendsburg District Court’s decision to acquit the shipowners involved in the illegal export and scrapping… Read More