A Guide to Ship Demolition Process
Ship demolition, which is popularly known as ship recycling is a process that is conducted when a ship completes its life. It is part of the ship disposal techniques which involves the end of life ships to be stripped off in the most useful manner. The machinery obtained out of the ship is sold off in the second hand market. The other value adding materials are reused for new ships or are used in the other applications. The Steel scrapped obtained from the ship is used to make other useful items like Steel rods, taps and more such. In addition to this, all the materials like wooden furniture, glass and more are reused for a number of other applications.
Why ship demolition is required?
The process of ship demolition is required as the maintenance expensive of the ship keeps reaching the sky with the passage of time and it becomes really difficult for the owner to handle those expenses. Thus, the ship owners go for the easier way and hand over their old ship for effective disposal. This way, they will be left with dealing other regular expenses.
How the process of ship dismantling or demolition is carried out?
One of the most common ways of dismantling a ship is by breaking it into several parts before breaking them in subparts. Once the ship reaches on the Shore, the engine is shut down and Anchor is dropped off so as to make the vessel steady. The workers then start working after preparation of a plan. The workers pull down the ship with the help of strong chains and machinery systems. It is considered as one of the most dangerous task of the whole ship demolition procedure as the change might break down during the process which can lead to accidents.
Before the actual dismantling for demolition process takes place, the fuel tanks are completely drained off so as to prevent any accidental explosions in the shipyards. The labourers then explore the vessel and locate useful items like flags, liquor, electrical wiring, machinery, electronics and furniture. These items are either reused or sold off in the second hand market at a decent price. After that, the real shift immolation process takes place where the supervisor and other authorised personnel inspect the ship and then decide the action to be taken. By following the safety guidelines, the ship demolition process takes place which varies from 2 weeks to 12 months depending upon the size of the ship.
Is the process of ship demolition dangerous?
Well yes, the ship demolition process is considered as one of the most dangerous professions to be carried out in the world as it involves greater amount of risks on the human and marine life. Obviously, it could be a difficult task to break a ship apart that has been built to withstand the harsh weather conditions and ocean storms. One of the reasons behind it could be because it contains many toxic substances like asbestos, Mercury, lead, radium, poisons and heavy metal machinery.
