Admiralty Lawyers

Ship breaking: A Source of Asbestos Exposure

Ship breaking, also known as ship demolition, is a way of recycling various components of ships into scrap. The majority of ships have a lifespan of only a few decades before they need to be retired. This is usually due to the fact that there has been so much wear that refitting and repairing the ship becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows for steel and other materials from the ship to be given a new life in a new vessel or other industry.

While the steel and other materials are useful, there are a number of older vessels that can contain a variety of substances that are either banned or considered dangerous in developed countries. Two excellent examples of dangerous materials on the ships are asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Asbestos was used in ship construction in a lot of different components on ships until it was banned in the developed world by 1980. Because of the costs associated with removing asbestos, the potentially expensive insurance, and health risks, ship breaking in developed countries is no longer economically viable. There are so many costs associated with ship breaking that removing the metal for scrap can cost more than the scrap value of the metal itself.

While these costs keep the workers of developed countries safe from the hazards of ship breaking, the workers of the undeveloped world are not protected at all. Shipyards can operate without the risk of personal injury lawsuits or even worker’s health claims. These shipyards operate with high health risks. There is frequently inadequate or completely absent protective equipment. Dangerous vapors and fumes from burning materials can be inhaled. Dusty, asbestos-laden areas are common.

Contact an Admiralty Lawyer

If you have been injured in a shipyard or ship breaking enterprise, contact the admiralty lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 1-866-950-9000 to begin the process to protect your rights.