How do retired ships hamper the environment if not recycled?

scrap ship yards

How exactly is ship recycling being done in India in ship scrap yards and other countries? What does the process for the recycling of ships in detail? Well, ship recycling is a process that saves the marine environment by recycling old vessels that reach their end-stage. Many companies in the shipping industry nowadays are looking for ways to protect the water bodies from harmful pollutants released from ships or retired vessels.

 

It's now common to see companies and ship owners selling their ships for recycling as they reach their end-stage because they can't just throw them away when they break down, as it leads to contamination of water bodies.

 

Recycling of ships is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste in the marine environment, thus, saving marine lives. It also helps keep the oceans clean, reducing the amount of chemical pollution which degrades the quality of water for marine animals to breathe.

 

Did you know? Vessels that are not recycled on time can cause various problems and threats to the marine world and the environment overall. Sustainability-minded companies in the shipping industry strive toward building a world where the marine ecosystem is free of pollution by supporting and dealing with recycling of ships.

 

But, do you know how vessels can hamper the marine environment if not recycled on time? Let’s see-

 

-        Chemical Pollution

 

The entry of chemicals from the retired vessels to the oceans is another threat the vessels make to the marine ecosystem.

Vessels, if not recycled on time, emit toxic chemicals from batteries, industrial products, chemicals for daily operations, and several other chemicals past their expiry, thus polluting the water and harming the marine ecosystem. As per IMO guidelines these chemicals possess a huge threat to the lives of marine creatures and life forms. Therefore, ship recycling done in India and other countries follow green practices to recycle the vessels on time every time.

 

-        Oil Spillage

 

Oil spillage from retired vessels is considered to be the main reason for the increased level of marine pollution. Vessels, huge in size compared to other vessels, end up burning more fuel. This oil contains dangerous levels of sulfur, heavy metals, and more, thus hampering the lives of marine animals.

It is estimated that vessels if not recycled on time use, on average, 150 tons of heavy fuel oil every day. With the bilge oil mixing with oceanic water, the use of this oil causes serious marine pollution. However, if recycling of ships is done timely then these risks can be prevented and build a cleaner world for the marine animals. The ship recycling companies in India and other countries now make sure that when a vessel is getting recycled it does not release waste into the water by any means to prevent contamination of water bodies.

 

-        Water stays contaminated for years

One way these vessels are harming water bodies is through the spillage of chemicals, small particles, and more. These chemicals and contaminants are nearly impossible to remove from water once they enter the ecosystem - and it can take YEARS for marine animals like fish to ingest them.

 

Vessels if not recycled on time turn into one of the biggest polluters of the marine environment. However, with the increasing demand for the recycling of ships in ship recycling yards, the marine environment can be recovered. The above article covers how ships if not recycled on time can pose risk to the marine environment. Ship recycling in India and other countries has now become an integral part of the shipping industry. Moreover, recycling of ships is a great way to keep the environment clean and a safe haven for marine animals to live.