Eco-friendly ship scrapping spreads throughout Japan

[KESENNUMA, Japan] A move to dismantle decommissioned big ships in an environmentally friendly way and recycle them has spread throughout Japan.

More than 90 per cent of ships in the world are scrapped in developing countries, and environmental pollution caused by the demolition work is a problem. Observers say demolition responsibility belongs to the shipbuilding countries.

In Kesennuma - where the 330-ton, 60m long Kyotoku Maru No 18 was washed ashore by tsunami following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake - heavy machines roared as they carried steel plates cut from the fishing vessel. Although plans to preserve the ship as a reminder of the disaster were once discussed, work to dismantle the ship was completed on Oct 28.