abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

6 May 2014

Author:
Jordan Kushins, Gizmodo

The ship-breakers who tear apart dead cargo vessels by hand [Bangladesh]

See all tags
On the Bangladeshi coast of the Bay of Bengal, past-their-prime oil tankers and cargo vessels are beached on the muddy shore like industrial, open-air graveyards. There, these massive ships are taken apart by men—"ship-breakers"—who toil hand-to-metal for minimal wages on the toxic, exceptionally dangerous sites…National Geographic's Peter Gwin offers a fascinating glimpse at the treacherous practice, where nearly everything on these decades-old liners—from the remaining fuel, machinery and fittings to the engines, and lifeboats—is scavenged and resold or recycled for a profit that can reach upwards of a million dollars per ship…The work itself is harrowing, and those who survive are often left with deep scars, both physical and psychological.