U.S. Maritime Shipbreaking: Law and Policy. Part II

At the end of their life cycle, ships are scrapped for their recyclable steel content. The process of scrapping vessels (also called shipbreaking) presents a number of environmental and safety challenges. This article examines the law and policy affecting domestic shipbreaking. Although the U.S. shipbreaking industry was close to extinction for a few years in the late 1990s, the industry is making a comeback, fueled by a combination of government action and developments in the global steel, energy and freight industries. Labor, hazardous materials and environmental regulations were the predominant reasons for the downward spiral of this industry, but have also indirectly contributed to its recovery. Since U.S. ships must be cleaned of all hazardous material before they are submitted for scrapping, it has become less cost efficient to send cleaned ships to a developing country for the final process of scrapping. There are now six ship recycling facilities operation in the United States, all of which meet U.S. Maritime Administration shipbreaking requirements. The policy supporting these U.S. shipbreaking operations helps save tax money and creates jobs while ensuring a cleaner environment and safer working conditions.

  • Availability:
  • Authors:
    • Glisson, L Milton
    • Sink, Harry L
  • Publication Date: 2006

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01035991
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 27 2006 8:09AM