Should ships have hazardous substances removed before they are consigned to the scrap heap? Sounds like a no-brainer, but the answer is far from straightforward, as a controversial decision by the International Maritime Organization reveals.
Human rights campaigners have condemned the IMO’s decision not to require pre-cleaning of ships, just as an Indian government report revealed that 1 in 6 workers scrapping ships in there show signs of the killer lung disease asbestosis.
It is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, says Paul Bailey of the International Labour Organization, especially as the vast majority of ships are…
