Concerns are intensifying over environmental and labor safety violations in Turkey’s ship recycling sector, as a series of recent events have reignited calls for reform.
Civil society groups, labor unions, and environmental engineers are demanding urgent government action and international accountability to address unsafe dismantling practices, toxic waste mismanagement, and opaque land deals tied to one of the country’s major ship recycling zones.
Fire Incident and Hazardous Dismantling Spark Outrage
A recent fire at a floating storage facility—allegedly triggered while dismantling activities occurred despite the presence of flammable substances—has raised serious safety concerns. Experts and advocacy groups call it a preventable incident, citing regulatory negligence and insufficient precautionary measures.
Simultaneously, the dismantling of a military vessel known to contain highly toxic materials—including asbestos and PCBs—has added to the alarm. Environmental advocates argue that current infrastructure lacks the capacity and safeguards to handle such hazardous materials safely, putting both workers and local communities at risk.
Fire Incident and Hazardous Dismantling Spark Outrage
A recent fire at a floating storage facility—allegedly triggered while dismantling activities occurred despite the presence of flammable substances—has raised serious safety concerns. Experts and advocacy groups call it a preventable incident, citing regulatory negligence and insufficient precautionary measures.
Simultaneously, the dismantling of a military vessel known to contain highly toxic materials—including asbestos and PCBs—has added to the alarm. Environmental advocates argue that current infrastructure lacks the capacity and safeguards to handle such hazardous materials safely, putting both workers and local communities at risk.
Controversial Sale Raises Accountability Questions
Further controversy surrounds the recent sale of the recycling zone to private interests. While officials claim the deal will improve regulatory oversight and enable long-term planning, critics argue the transaction lacked transparency and failed to address long-standing concerns over hidden hazardous waste and inadequate supervision.
Stakeholders have called for greater public participation, independent monitoring, and guarantees that environmental and labor protections will not be undermined by profit-driven interests.
A Call for Systemic Reform and Environmental Justice
NGOs stress that meaningful change will require a coordinated, transparent strategy focused on environmental justice, worker protection, and a transition away from outdated and hazardous dismantling methods. This includes investing in modern infrastructure, stricter enforcement of environmental and labor regulations, and aligning practices with international sustainability standards.
Experts underscore that safeguarding both people and the environment is not only a moral imperative but a precondition for building a just and future-ready ship recycling industry.
As pressure mounts domestically and internationally, the Turkish government faces a pivotal moment: either maintain the status quo or commit to a full-scale transformation of its shipbreaking practices. Civil society voices are clear—the time for transparency, safety, and sustainability is now.
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Source: Safety4Sea
