Practices towards cleaner ships and sustainable social development

TLDR: In this article, the authors focus on the end-of-life management practices currently prevalent in the shipping industry and examine the possibility of emulating systems that have been developed by the automobile industry.

Abstract: Title of Dissertation: Practices towards Cleaner Ships and Sustainable social Development. Degree: MSc. This dissertation studies the need of developing a life cycle approach in shipping to achieve sustainable development goals. It focuses on the End-of-the-life management practices currently prevalent in the shipping industry and examines the possibility of emulating systems that have been developed by the automobile industry. It delves into the development of pollution prevention policies from the polluter pays principle to the current emphasis on Cleaner Production techniques. Extensive resource utilisation and waste generation arising from a product-based society has led to the search of new environmental strategies. One such strategy detailed in this study is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) where the producer takes upon a degree of responsibility for managing environmental impacts throughout the lifecycle of his product. EPR forms the basis of “Take back” legislations enforced by governments for several products. The EU end-of-the-life vehicle Directive is one such legislation from where initiatives can be drawn in shipping. Existing guidelines on ship recycling are looked into and the need for mandatory international legislation is emphasised. The research studies the applicability of the tools of EPR such as life cycle assessment and recycling funds. Collection of materials necessary for the research has been primarily through literature reviews. A questionnaire constituted to solicit opinion on the topic received low return rates. Therefore conclusions have been drawn by comparative analysis of relevant topics from the referred texts. The research contends that the shipping industry should assimilate several good points that have been successfully applied to the end-of the life management of cars. The study brings out recommendations for implementation and identifies challenges for further research.