Sub-Sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines: Shipbuilding and Ab0cd Shipyards
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Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines: Shipbuilding and ab0cd Shipyards PROCESS DESCRIPTION manufacturing and maintenance shops, a galvanising operation and wastewater treatment, This guideline focuses on the shipbuilding paint shop, various materials stores, boiler processes and shipyards. This includes facilities house, compressors and gas production. (wet and dry docks, marine railways, design yards) which fabricate and dismantle floating The guidance outlines the processes, resources vessels for inland and marine use vessels. and materials used during the construction process; the facilities and services needed to The main inputs at shipyards are steel plate, enable the outputs and their environmental energy and labour. Large quantities of steelwork context. Shipyards use a varied range of services may be stockpiled, prior to shot blasting to for new vessel construction; hull cleaning and de remove oxidised layers and application of primer commissioning. coat. The activities can occur in the open air or in purpose built facilities. There is likely to be a Investment in shipbuilding varies internationally press shop and a building dock where large with some regions investing heavily, others sections of hull are assembled. divesting and outsourcing. Typically, shipyards produce and build only 20-30% of the value of The vessel is then transferred to another berth each vessel by themselves, the rest produced and for fitting operations to be completed. These installed by suppliers, subcontractors and activities typically occur on the seaward side of turnkey suppliers. the yard. The industry is under close regulatory scrutiny and faces compliance requirements related to hazardous wastes, wastewater, stormwater, and air emissions generated by vessel construction, maintenance and repair activities Shipyards are usually located in environmentally sensitive areas. KEY ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK/LIABILITY ISSUES Water Pollution Oil spills during fitting operations may contaminate the waters surrounding the shipyard. Runoff water is likely to capture oils and debris that has accumulated on the dock area. The bottoms of vessels that have prolonged The remaining area of the shipyard will support seawater contact commonly are coated with ancillary activities including tank farms, "anti-fouling" paints containing chemicals that Shipbuilding and shipyards Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines Page 1 Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines: Shipbuilding and ab0cd Shipyards inhibit the attachment of fouling organisms to disposal of grit a critical economic and hulls. The active ingredients commonly found in environmental issue for shipbuilding and repair anti-fouling paints are metal-based such as facilities. Air, drainage systems and coastal cuprous (copper) oxide or tributyltin (TBT). The waters are vulnerable to contamination from the pesticides are harmful to many types of marine process. life as well as fouling organisms. Metals can enter the water through discharge of anti-fouling Solid Waste paint chips and paint removal materials during vessel maintenance activities. TBT is now Spent grit needs to be tested for toxicity. If it is banned globally but still remains as a hazardous regarded as toxic, it must be managed and substance on the hull of older vessels and is a disposed of as hazardous waste. The likelihood concern during maintenance and servicing of that grit will fail the tests depends on how it has hulls in shipyards. been used. Grit that has been used to remove anti-fouling bottom paints is more likely to fail Waste water the tests than grit that has been used to strip topside surfaces. Galvanising and other metal preparation baths will discharge acid/alkali and metals laden Sludge from waste water treatment, possibly waters. Water used in cleaning processes will with a heavy metal content, will need to be also require treatment. Waste water treatment disposed through licensed contractors. will be carried out either in a purpose built waste water treatment plant or will discharge to a Hazardous Materials municipal waste water treatment plant. In either case it is likely that water quality conditions are Solvents are commonly used to formulate both defined, possibly in a permit. bottom paints and coatings used for topside applications such as corrosion resistance. Air Emissions Solvents are sources of hazardous waste and of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These Smaller vessels can be worked on beneath shop compounds are hazardous air pollutants. roofs, but larger vessels are worked on in open areas; on floating dry-docks or marine railways. Hazardous materials, such as solvents, present a Blasting grit used in shipyards typically is a slag, health and safety risk if incorrectly handled, a by-product of ferronickel production. The stored and disposed of. constituents of blasting grit vary, but in general include oxides of silicon, iron, aluminium and Liquid Wastes calcium. Some grits also may contain oxides of zinc and magnesium, and trace amounts of • Wash water, oily water from bilges and tank copper, titanium, sulphur, and oxides of cleaning, and engine fluids such as oil, potassium and sodium. hydraulic fluids, lubricants, and anti-freeze are among the waste liquids generated by Paint stripping jobs require varying amounts of during maintenance shipyard activities. grit. Stripping 280m2 of hull surface area, for example, may require an estimated 60 tonnes of • Fuelling facilities are another potential grit. The large quantities make management and generator of waste liquids. Hydrocarbons, Shipbuilding and shipyards Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines Page 2 Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines: Shipbuilding and ab0cd Shipyards glycols and other pollutants in these liquids Poor management of materials, waste and can come into contact with waterways and discharges from production presents a potential aquatic life through spills and leaks from risk of soil contamination. Heavy metals and storage tanks. accidental discharges from spills and storage tank leakages may also contaminate groundwater Noise in areas where soils beneath the site are permeable. Pneumatic hammers, gouging tools and chipping machines are sources of significant noise Contamination could arise from deteriorating exposure in shipyards. drainage networks. Falls from height Radiation Falls from height occur on shipyards while Some key workers, especially those associated vessels are being constructed. with submarine facilities, work with radioactive substances. Some cases of leukaemia, lymphoma, and lung cancer have been known to Falling objects occur due to poor site radiation control protection and management practices. As vessels are being constructed in many levels falling objects are a hazard. In addition, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and personnel can be hit by falling/moving objects Asbestos during fabrication where failure of fixtures and conveyance gantries can occur. • PCBs are a group of substances which are good electrical insulators. Typically, PCBs Confined spaces may be present as constituents of hydraulic oils or dielectric fluids in electrical Many areas on a vessel are designated as switchgear, transformers and fluorescent light confined spaces, which can result in vapour starters. build up. • Asbestos has been used on a large scale for Slips, trips and falls many years as a fire proofing and insulation material and may be encountered in a wide There is a high incidence of slips, trips and falls range of forms including asbestos cement at shipyards as a result of uneven surfaces, boards, as fire retardant gaskets in pipework unsteady walk ways and wet decks. and as fire retardant insulation around boilers and furnaces. OTHER POTENTIAL Particular attention should be given to ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH refurbishment of vessels constructed before the AND SAFETY RISKS/LIABILITY ISSUES 1980’s. Ground Contamination Shipbuilding and shipyards Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines Page 3 Sub-sectoral Environmental and Social Guidelines: Shipbuilding and ab0cd Shipyards Machinery FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS All equipment should have safety guarding and • IMO is focusing on global regulations workers should be issued with appropriate (2009) for the design, construction, personal protective equipment to protect against operation and preparation of ships to unavoidable sharp items and edges. Particular facilitate safe and environmentally sound attention should be paid to metal cutting recycling, without compromising the safety equipment. and operational efficiency of ships. They will be establishing an appropriate enforcement Inhalation mechanism for ship recycling, incorporating certification and reporting requirements. Use of solvents in the process, creation of dust Ships sent for recycling will be required to during shot blasting, machining and welding undertake an inventory for hazardous activities can result in respiratory disease. materials. The new regulation will prohibit or restrict the use of certain hazardous Occupational Dermatitis materials in shipyards. Shipyards converted to ship recycling yards will be required to This can occur as a result of contact with have a ship recycling plan antioxidants, chromates and solvents. • New ships constructed after this regulation KEY SOCIAL, LABOUR AND will have to de designed for deconstruction COMMUNITY RISK/LIABILITY ISSUES and recycling Noise, odour and dust • The visual and olfactory impact of oily water releases