Abstract:
Over the years the main hubs of the ship breaking and recycling industry (SBRI) transitioned from Europe and North America to East Asia, and since the 1980s, to South Asian countries particularly Bangladesh has been the preferred destination for shipbreaking, despite the severe repercussions for labourers, local populations, and vulnerable coastal ecosystems. SBRI is often criticised for being concentrated in areas with lax environmental regulations, leading some to call it a "pollution haven" business. There are global and regional level conventions and regulations such as International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKS-2010) – which has entered into force in 2025 - and European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR-2013) to ensure environmentally sound and safe ship recycling process. Such green transition and compliance with global and EU regulations in Bangladesh SBRI sector need substantial expenditure, blended financing, technology and knowledge transfers and development of human capital. The lunch seminar seeks to provide an overview on the state-of-the-art SBRI, analyse current regulatory developments and potential impacts, and reflects on the perspectives for coastal communities in Bangladesh and EU port cities such as Bremerhaven.