In the wake of harsh criticism regarding Maersk’s decommissioning and selling of ships, aware they would be scrapped in dangerous circumstances in Bangladesh and India, the Danish carrier has decided it will cease to sell its decommissioned vessels, reported Politiken.”The health risks attached to ship scrapping are numerous and deadly, including, lead or asbestos poisoning, polychlorinated biphenyls and other dangers associated with heavy metals,” reports Port Technology.
The company stated that if a ship is no longer viable to continue service, Maersk will take the responsibility themselves to ensure it is scrapped in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Maersk had previously admitted duplicity in its handling of the scrapping of vessels on the Indian and Bangladeshi coast in 2014, having both publicised against it whilst also participating in and encouraging another company to partake in it, but it was reported vessels that had been sold on by Maersk were being scrapped in this way as recent as summer, 2016.
