How Ageing Ships Benefits The Scrap Metal Recycling Industry

Ships at the end of their lifecycle become a treasure trove of metal scrap, highly valuable in the global steel market. The revenue generated from selling the scrap material not only boosts the economy but also contributes to material recycling. To give you a clear idea of how aging ships benefit the Scrap Metal Recycling Industry, we at R.L. Kalthia have compiled this comprehensive blog. In this blog, you will learn more about the present market scenario of the ship scrapping industry, the craft metal provided by single end-of-life vessels, and much more.

Present Market Scenario of the Ship Scrap Market

The international ship scrap market flourishes due to high demand from the steel industry. The steel recovered from ships is mostly used in re-rolling mills or remelting. The ship scrap market is highly dominated by countries in the sub-continent and China. The long coastlines and availability of cheap labor have made these countries favorable for ship beaching. As most countries in this region are deficient in power, steel provides an easy route for manufacturing reinforcement bars, angles, etc., used in the construction industry. India plays a crucial role in the small ships market. These ships are easier to dismantle, and credit exposure is limited, making all conditions favorable. Recently, the ship scrap market in India has imposed considerations for the quality of ship scrap.

A Brief Overview of Recoveries from Ship Demolition

In the realm of ship demolition, the recovery process yields a diverse array of materials essential for various industries. As vessels undergo dismantling, a significant portion of the resulting scrap is of re-rollable quality, constituting a substantial share of the recovered resources. Alongside this, a smaller yet noteworthy portion comprises steel melting scrap and cast-iron scrap, each contributing to the resource pool. Despite their lesser presence, non-ferrous scrap materials also find their way into the recovery mix, albeit in minimal quantities. Moreover, the process yields a considerable amount of equipment and machinery, alongside a moderate volume of items such as wood and furniture. However, it’s essential to note that a notable proportion is lost during burning and cutting processes, including damages incurred. Nonetheless, this comprehensive recovery process ensures that valuable materials are salvaged and repurposed, playing a vital role in sustaining various sectors, particularly construction and manufacturing.

Benefits of Aging Ships for the Metal Recycling Industry

The market for ship scrap is driven by the demand for construction activity in the country. The structural steel of a ship makes up the majority of its weight and provides a substantial amount of scrap steel for steel mills. The metal recovered from aging ships significantly reduces energy use and is reused for new products. Ship recycling also lowers manufacturing costs by providing reusable parts for new ships, such as bars, ingots, pipes, and plates. It not only impacts the economy but also offers enormous environmental benefits.

Metal recovered from ships leaves a smaller environmental impact than mining and extracting metals from ore. The range of benefits of aging ships for the metal recycling industry is mentioned as follows:

• Creates jobs and stimulates economic growth.
• Reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.
• Keeps metals out of landfills, where the toxins within them pose serious risks to the soil and water.
• Helpful in saving the energy used to produce recovered metal from raw materials.
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and uses less energy than producing metal from mineral ore.

Conclusion

Aging ships are no less than a gold mine for the scrap metal recycling industry. Ship recycling offers an economical yet valuable source of re-rolling and remelting steel scrap. This metal scrap is highly beneficial in cutting down manufacturing costs and extracting metal from the actual source. Besides the economic advantages, it also helps in reducing the environmental impact of extracting other raw materials.