A Perspective Study of Ship breaking in India and the Impact of International Conventions and Regulations

Abstract

Recycling is the most efficient and sustainable way of disposal towards the end of useful life of a ship. However, presently it is not carried out in a safe, environmental friendly manner in the beaching method of ship breaking carried out in the beaches of South Asian Countries such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan causing frequent accidents, loss of life and environmental degradation. To address the above issues, International conventions such as Hong Kong Convention, EU Ship Recycling, regulations and guidelines have been adopted. This article analyses the ship breaking in global and Indian perspective, the existing legal frame work, the issues in the Indian ship breaking yards and the impact of the International conventions and regulations in Ship breaking in India with a conclusion towards the necessity for implementation of the above conventions.