The great majority of ships that are past their use-by-date end up on beaches in Pakistan, India or Bangladesh to be broken up. In these localities, non existent regulations, low wages and almost no union presence make the task of dismantling these ships very cheap for their owners. On the other hand, these same conditions are deadly for workers, making shipbreaking one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. To document the full extent of the problem, a new website has been developed. An international co-ordinated response by workers is the only long term solution.
The great majority of ships that are past their use-by-date end up on beaches in Pakistan, India or Bangladesh to be broken up. In these localities, non existent regulations, low wages and almost no union presence make the task of dismantling these ships very cheap for their owners. On the other hand, these same conditions are deadly for workers, making shipbreaking one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. To document the full extent of the problem, a new website has been developed. An international co-ordinated response by workers is the only long term solution.
