South Asia Site for Dangerous Ships

Article Added July 6th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

The need for jobs in India and Bangladesh seems to supercede the need for safety. When no one else will take on the demolition of an asbestos-laden ship, these shipyards jump at the opportunity, though working with third world safety stipulations.

The recent debate over asbestos ships being demolished in third world ports has heated up over the last year. Two ships slated for Alang, India were routed after public outcry forced the owners to ditch the plan. The argument is that the shipyards in southern Asia don’t have the safety standards that assure workers will be safe. The shipyards are crying foul that their income is being taken away. But one thing is for certain; workers are exposed to asbestos in the yards and they do end up dying from it.

India’s west coast is known as a place that takes dangerous ships. Burning, drowning and fatal diseases are a part of the shipyard workers life. As a result, controversy has plagued the yards and made business slow for the industry of breaking down asbestos-filled ships. In hopes that the Indian government would impose stricter regulations, groups such as Greenpeace have raised an alarm at the conditions faced in the yards. Until the government decides on a path, workers will continue to die, and income will continue to drop, a no win situation for all involved.

Article Added July 6th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story