How Green Ship Recycling Industry Can Save The Environment

The ship recycling industry has become an integral part of the global economy, with a direct impact on employment, revenue, and raw material supply. The uphill battle of making shipbreaking sustainable for the environment has been made possible by the consistent efforts of international and national regulatory authorities. In this blog prepared by R.L. Kalthia, we will delve deeper into how the Green Ship Recycling Industry Can Save the Environment and several steps taken to achieve this. We have vividly discussed several steps taken to regulate shipbreaking practices and the impact they have, along with several authorities laying down the guidelines.

The Change Brought By Green Ship Recycling

The concept of green ship recycling was introduced to address the environmental challenges posed by the ship recycling industry. The implementation of green ship recycling brought a revolution in the maritime industry by encouraging shipyard owners to adopt greener technologies, implement stricter safety and environmental regulations, and promote sustainable ship recycling practices. These measures have immensely contributed to changing the global shipbreaking scenario, reducing the environmental impact, and enhancing the safety and sustainability of the global shipping industry.

Green ship recycling touches upon various concerns of safety, environmental impact, and economic considerations in the ship recycling industry. Shipyard owners, stockists, and shipbreaking companies are all encouraged to adopt these green ship recycling practices while making them more sustainable. The major green ship recycling practices encouraged at an international level are briefed below:

• Efficient waste management or waste disposal
• Emphasis on worker safety and welfare
• Safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials
• Adherence to regulatory compliances and pollution preventive measures
• Promoting the reuse and recycling of materials

Innovations and Technologies Used in Green Ship Recycling

The impact of continuous research and development in technology can also be seen in the ship recycling industry. These innovations and advancements in technologies have the potential to further improve safety, efficiency, and environmental outcomes in ship recycling. These innovations are also useful to address the current challenges in the shipbreaking industry and offer solutions for a sustainable future.

The use of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) for process optimization, advanced sensor technologies for material identification, and more efficient methods for hazardous material removal, is being actively adopted by stakeholders and shipyard owners. Other green technologies, such as cutting torches, plasma cutters, and shearing machines, are being used to disassemble ships in a controlled and efficient manner.

Paving the Way for Sustainability With Green Passport

Among the various steps taken to make ship recycling more sustainable, green passports stand out as particularly revolutionary. The Green Passport includes details of all materials, especially those that are harmful to human health, used in the construction of a vessel. It allows ship owners and operators to document hazardous materials on board their ships and prepare for their proper and safe disposal.

Conclusion

Green ship recycling holds the potential to completely transform the ship recycling industry’s approach. However, it is only possible with the integration of emerging technologies, adherence to circular economy principles, and collective efforts of stakeholders and shipyard owners to bring about change at the global level. The trajectory of the ship recycling industry is not predetermined; rather, it is shaped by the steps taken today.