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When a large ship comes to the end of its sea-going existence, it will usually be dismantled in a process called "shipbreaking". It is seen as a form of recycling, but can be lucrative as the income from the sale of steel from a ship can be sizeable. However, as most ships still contain large amounts of hazardous materials, the risk of workers contracting industrial disease and later claiming asbestos compensation can be high.
Shipbreaking occurred in the ports of major industrialised countries such as Great Britain and the United States until the late twentieth century, but shipbreaking yards in other countries, such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, took over most of the work due to lower labour costs and fewer regulations regarding the handling and disposal of environmentally dangerous substances, such as asbestos.
Fears for the health of yard workers and for the surrounding environment have been paramount in developed countries, but the low risk of asbestos compensation claims and personal injury litigation has enabled the growth of shipbreaking in poorer, developing nations.
Asbestos in ships is found most notably in engine rooms where it was utilised for its thermal insulation and fire-resisting properties. It is usually found sandwiched between steel plates in the walls and floors, but was also used to insulate electrical pipes, boilers and incinerators on ships.
In February 2009, a large French vessel entered a shipyard in Hartlepool, UK to be broken down. Local campaigners protested the arrival of the ship as it contained more than 700 tonnes of hazardous materials. Both the Health and Safety Executive and The Environment Agency were involved in the decision to allow the yard to carry out the breaking.
An agency spokesperson said of the French ship, "In 2006, the Clemenceau was destined to be dismantled in India in appalling conditions for workers and the environment. The UK facility has some of the world's most regulatory controls to ensure this vessel is dismantled and recycled in an environmentally sound manner."
Asbestos compensation and the time lapse between ingestion and illness
Unfortunately, once asbestos fibres have been breathed in, they may not develop into a disease such as mesothelioma for many years, sometimes several decades, and the company responsible for ensuring worker safety may have long since gone out of business. Fortunately, the asbestos compensation solicitors at YouClaim are experts in tracking such firms and ensuring that their insurance covers employees who worked under their duty of care.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any asbestos cancer, YouClaim can help you win compensation for your suffering. We understand how distressing these diseases are and our friendly and knowledgeable advisors are waiting to talk to you about your asbestos compensation claim on 0800 10 757 95.
Our dedicated personal injury solicitors have years of experience dealing with the complex issues surrounding asbestosis claims. We have already helped many people get 100 per cent compensation from their mesothelioma claim and, as we operate on a strictly no win, no fee basis, you can be sure you will never be charged for their professional litigation services.
Call our free UK helpline now or you can request a more convenient time when we can call you back. Alternatively, fill in the online claim form and we will look into your asbestos compensation case before we call you to discuss it further. Above all, at YouClaim we are here to help.
