Migrating ship waste management from India to Finland : analysis of opportunities and risks in an industrial symbiosis of sustainable ship recycling

Abstract

Environmental protection and social wellbeing are significant segments of economic development. Market demand, legal directives, competitor existence and NGO interest together influence to manufacture in a cleaner and safer way and to abandon the traditional, often lethal working processes. Ship breaking is one of the most perilous industries where powerful states subordinate those countries where regulations can be bypassed for profit maximization. The unfavorable dependence arises from economic and technological arrears, and it results in environmental pollution, human rights violation and non-conformity with environmental, health and safety regulations. To improve environmental, health and safety issues in ship breaking sequential international legislation was required that controls the supply of vessels. Revolution develops as ship recycling is becoming strictly controlled in South-Asia under the flag of the European Union. This restriction gives opportunities for developed countries to establish collaborations for sustainable ship recycling. Such little understood business favors the combination of expertise from different fields. Technical interaction, joint logistic systems and collective operational processes can be perceived as industrial symbiosis. Developing synergy between different industrial partners requires managerial dedication as well. Besides the so-called hard tools for such engagement, questions remain around the level of commitment, preparedness and willingness for collaboration in an industrial symbiosis. This study seeks to answer the research question, whether it is possible to establish an industrial symbiosis for environmentally friendly ship recycling in Finland. Perception and attitude towards a systemized cooperation and the current understanding of ship recycling is analyzed.