Dismantling ships to recover steel and other recyclable materials
Explanation
Ship-breaking (also known as ship recycling or ship demolition) is the process of dismantling an obsolete vessel's structure for scrapping or disposal. It is a crucial part of the circular economy in the maritime sector, allowing for the recovery of valuable materials from ships that have reached the end of their operational life.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Refurbishing old ships for tourism purposes is Incorrect. Refurbishing old ships for tourism or other purposes falls under ship repair or retrofitting, not ship-breaking. Ship-breaking implies the permanent cessation of the ship's service.
- Dismantling ships to recover steel and other recyclable materials is Correct. The primary activity of the ship-breaking industry is dismantling vessels to recover scrap steel, which is then re-rolled and used in construction and other industries. It also recovers non-ferrous metals (copper, zinc, lead), machinery, and equipment for reuse.
- Extracting deep-sea minerals attached to ship hulls is Incorrect. Extracting deep-sea minerals is related to deep-sea mining (e.g., polymetallic nodules), which is distinct from processing ship hulls.
- Converting merchant vessels into naval warships is Incorrect. Converting merchant vessels into naval warships is a form of naval conversion or retrofitting, usually done in shipyards, not ship-breaking yards.
Key Takeaway
Ship-breaking is the dismantling of end-of-life ships to recycle steel and other materials. India is a global leader in this industry, with the Alang-Sosiya yard in Gujarat being the world's largest ship-breaking facility. The sector is regulated in India under the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, which aligns with the international Hong Kong Convention.