Govt may approve first ever ship breaking policy
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Jasim Uddin Haroon
The government is likely to approve the first ever policy for the country's ship breaking industry shortly to reduce environmental pollution and give impetus to the sector that provides steel to hundreds of re-rolling mills.
The policy will also help promote labour welfare, ministry of shipping sources said.
The sources said that the draft of the policy might be sent to the council of advisers soon for its approval.
Sources said the policy has been prepared following the guidelines of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Opinions of all the stakeholders were sought for preparation of the policy, ministry sources said.
As per the draft policy, a high powered advisory committee will be formed comprising representatives from the shipping ministry, the armed forces, the energy ministry, the finance ministry, and Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA).
The advisory committee will take appropriate measures in the event of incidents at the ship yards or within the Bangladesh water territory.
The committee will also determine the import volume of scrap vessels for a particular period, the draft said.
Furthermore, the committee will examine whether or not the importers of the scrap vessels are following the policy appropriately.
The Department of Shipping will reject any scrap vessels once prior permission is not taken from it for cutting of the same, according to the draft.
Sources said that the BSBA will implement projects relating to the welfare of the labourers working at different ship breaking yards.
It will provide adequate financial support to the injured or crippled labourers, as per the policy.
Apart from this, a hospital will be built at Bhatiary area in Chittagong for the welfare of the ship breaking workers.
Besides, the BSBA will have to create a fund for the welfare of the labourers.
Around 25,000 people are directly employed at 33 ship breaking yards.
The ship breaking yards, which supply around 80 per cent of the requirement for raw materials to manufacture mild steel (MS) rod has been running without a policy since their start of operation in the 1960's.
The importers of scrap vessels have been confronting questions from exporters and the European Commission for lack of modern and environment friendly beaching facilities for braking old ships.
The draft policy also said the importers will have to report within 72 hours of beaching scrap vessels at the yards to the directorate of shipping.
The BSBA in collaboration with the government will have to set up a modern waste reception and recycling facility at the ship yards area.
The government is likely to approve the first ever policy for the country's ship breaking industry shortly to reduce environmental pollution and give impetus to the sector that provides steel to hundreds of re-rolling mills.
The policy will also help promote labour welfare, ministry of shipping sources said.
The sources said that the draft of the policy might be sent to the council of advisers soon for its approval.
Sources said the policy has been prepared following the guidelines of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Opinions of all the stakeholders were sought for preparation of the policy, ministry sources said.
As per the draft policy, a high powered advisory committee will be formed comprising representatives from the shipping ministry, the armed forces, the energy ministry, the finance ministry, and Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA).
The advisory committee will take appropriate measures in the event of incidents at the ship yards or within the Bangladesh water territory.
The committee will also determine the import volume of scrap vessels for a particular period, the draft said.
Furthermore, the committee will examine whether or not the importers of the scrap vessels are following the policy appropriately.
The Department of Shipping will reject any scrap vessels once prior permission is not taken from it for cutting of the same, according to the draft.
Sources said that the BSBA will implement projects relating to the welfare of the labourers working at different ship breaking yards.
It will provide adequate financial support to the injured or crippled labourers, as per the policy.
Apart from this, a hospital will be built at Bhatiary area in Chittagong for the welfare of the ship breaking workers.
Besides, the BSBA will have to create a fund for the welfare of the labourers.
Around 25,000 people are directly employed at 33 ship breaking yards.
The ship breaking yards, which supply around 80 per cent of the requirement for raw materials to manufacture mild steel (MS) rod has been running without a policy since their start of operation in the 1960's.
The importers of scrap vessels have been confronting questions from exporters and the European Commission for lack of modern and environment friendly beaching facilities for braking old ships.
The draft policy also said the importers will have to report within 72 hours of beaching scrap vessels at the yards to the directorate of shipping.
The BSBA in collaboration with the government will have to set up a modern waste reception and recycling facility at the ship yards area.