Ship breaking: Newfoundland’s legacy with one of the most hazardous jobs

VANCOUVER and MARYSTOWN, N.L. – When old ships reach the end of their ocean-sailing life, they often go to shipyards in developing countries to be broken into scraps.
But the workers who tear apart the no-longer-seaworthy ocean liners and tankers put their health, and lives, at risk to salvage whatever materials scrap dealers can sell.

In the process, thousands of manual labourers, working with limited or no protective gear, are exposed to toxins including asbestos for pay that does not come close to compensating for the risk.
Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China and Turkey are the biggest markets for ship breaking and salvage.
The International Labour Organization reported 90 per cent of the world’s ship breaking occurs in those five countries.
Ship breaking: Newfoundland’s legacy with one of the most hazardous jobs