- 80% of scrapped ships in 2024 were dismantled in hazardous conditions in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
- MSC was named the “Worst Corporate Dumper” again, while China topped the list of ship exporters to South Asia.
- Legal actions were taken against illegal shipbreaking in South Korea, Europe, and Canada, highlighting industry violations.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform’s 2024 report reveals the ongoing environmental and humanitarian crisis in the global shipbreaking industry. Despite increased awareness and regulatory efforts, the vast majority of decommissioned ships were scrapped under hazardous conditions on South Asian beaches. The industry’s reliance on unsafe ship recycling methods continues to endanger workers, pollute coastal ecosystems, and violate international laws.
South Asia Remains the Epicenter of Hazardous Shipbreaking
Of the 409 ships dismantled globally in 2024, 255 ended up in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, where workers face life-threatening conditions.
Bangladesh remains the top choice for shipbreaking, despite its reputation for frequent accidents, poor waste management, and lack of enforcement.
The most devastating accident of the year occurred at SN Corporation in Chattogram, Bangladesh. There an oil tanker explosion killed six workers and critically injured six others.
The company lost its environmental clearance after investigations uncovered severe negligence and safety violations.
China and MSC Among the Worst Offenders
China once again led the “Dumpers List”. 50+ vessels were sent to South Asia for scrapping, despite its ban on ship beaching.
Meanwhile, for the second consecutive year, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was named the Worst Corporate Dumper, with 16 of its ships beached in India.
“That a facility such as SN Corporation – and the more than 100 beaching yards that have similarly obtained Statements of Compliance – supposedly fulfills the requirements of the Hong Kong Convention says much about the low standards set by the IMO”, said Ingvild Jenssen, Executive Director, NGO Shipbreaking Platform
Illegal Ship Exports and Violations of International Laws
South Korea was flagged for illegally exporting 13 vessels to India and Bangladesh, including HL PYEONGTAEK. It was sold to a cash buyer and sent for scrapping.
The Basel Convention prohibits such exports of hazardous waste from OECD to non-OECD countries, making these transactions serious environmental crimes.
“An export in breach of the Basel Convention is a serious environmental crime as witnessed by cases brought to European Courts, including now in Germany and in Norway where Altera Infrastructure was fined for the illegal export of several vessels for scrapping in India”, said Ingvild.
Tighter Scrutiny in Europe and North America
As the Hong Kong Convention prepares to enter into force in June 2025, the European Union is still debating stronger regulations to prevent illegal shipbreaking.
Unannounced inspections of Turkish ship recycling yards uncovered high pollution levels and regulatory failures, leading to the removal of several yards from the EU-approved list.
Meanwhile, in Canada, residents of Union Bay continue their legal battle against unregulated shipbreaking. Civil society organizations in both Canada and Turkiye are demanding stricter environmental impact assessments to regulate the sector.
Can the Industry Shift Toward Sustainable Recycling?
Despite the alarming findings, there is hope for cleaner, safer alternatives to shipbreaking.
The 2nd Ship Recycling Lab showcased viable and scalable solutions. The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) urged its members to avoid beaching and cash buyers. Companies like Shell, Petrobras, and SBM already enforce no-beaching policies, proving that sustainable ship recycling is possible.
Ingvild also said, “The Basel Convention recommended the phasing out of the beaching method 20 years ago and calls for full containment of pollutants and their environmentally sound management to disposal.”
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Source: Shipbreaking Platform
