Hazardous materials analysis and disposal procedures during ship recycling

Dismantling end-of-life ships in an environmentally sound and safe manner is of great concern as well as being a major challenge nowadays. When dismantling the vessel, on-board hazardous materials such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), glass fibre, solid foam and waste oil can incur severe negative implications on the environment and human health. The characteristics and harm of on-board hazardous materials are profiled in this paper. Current removal and disposal methods of hazardous materials are analysed. Further practical measures and suggestions to deal with the hazardous materials in the ship breaking yards are proposed. Two case studies about green disposal of the main hazardous materials during shipbreaking are presented. Both of the two companies are following Hong Kong Convention and verified by DNV-GL classification, which makes the recycling procedures of hazardous materials are quite similar to each other. In essence, more attention should be paid to the disposal of hazardous materials as integral to safe and environmentally sound practices when breaking the ships.