Philippines pressed on shipbreaking

Technorati Tags: Baltic Dry Index,Baltic Dry Indices,Ship Chartering,Shipchartering,Voyage Fixtures,Time Charter Fixtures,Panamax,Capesize,Handymax,Handysize,Supramax,Dry Cargo Fixtures,Bulk Cargo Fixtures,Baltic Exchange,Freight Review,Maritime Baltic Index,TNT Freight Review,Philippines Shipbreaking Start,Philippines Labor Groups,Shipbreaking jobs,Ban Toxics,EcoWaste Colation,Japan Shipowners Association

Manila: Shipbreaking could turn the country's ports and beaches into toxic dumpsites in the guise of creating jobs for Filipinos, environment and labour groups warned on Tuesday, according to local media.
In a joint statement, the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Ban Toxics and the EcoWaste Coalition, said the Japanese Shipowners' Association last week urged the government to embark on shipbreaking as the global financial crunch pushed many shipping firms to retire and scrap some 300 of their 5,000 vessels.
The groups cautioned the government about submitting to external pressure to allow shipbreaking in the country in the guise of generating local jobs and the Japanese promise of "good business."
"Shipbreaking is not a clean recycling industry, but a dirty, dangerous and deadly business that has been notorious for totally deplorable levels of workers’ injury and death and environmental pollution and destruction," the APL, Ban Toxics and the EcoWaste Coalition said. [1/4/09]