Table Of Content
- I ate four aphrodisiacs over a week to improve my sex life - and three worked
- Where do cruise ships go?
- Salvaging of Valuable Equipment and Materials
- Are There a Lot of Abandoned Cruise Ships?
- What Happens To Old Cruise Ships: Scrapping In The Cruise Ship Graveyard
- I live on luxury cruise ships, the rooms guests don't see like hidden NIGHTCLUBS
Some shipyards have evolved into tourist attractions, allowing visitors to explore these ghostly remnants of maritime history. Tourists can witness the grandeur of these colossal structures, marvel at their faded splendor, and reflect on the journeys these ships undertook during their active service. Given how valuable full-size cruise ships are, regardless of their age and condition, you might wonder why they would ever sit abandoned rather than being taken for recycling at a ship scrapping yard. Another reason that cruise ship companies were scrapping their vessels is due to the uncertainty surrounding the industry’s future.
I ate four aphrodisiacs over a week to improve my sex life - and three worked
In addition to international regulations, many countries have implemented their own domestic laws and regulations to govern ship recycling activities within their jurisdictions. These regulations often mirror or go beyond the requirements outlined in the Hong Kong Convention. In these cases, any equipment or components deemed of significant value would be dismantled on-site, but the bulk of the ship would remain behind. As we will discuss, in some instances, the decision is made to leave the cruise ship where it is, as it could make more financial sense to convert it into a floating hotel, entertainment venue, or tourist destination. In addition to the one in Alang, India, some of the most prominent scrapyards are located in Gadan, Pakistan; Chittagong, Bangladesh; and Aliaga, Turkey.
Where do cruise ships go?
The sinking of old ships is not an everyday event, but it’s not unheard of either. In fact, some cruise ships have been intentionally sunk to create artificial reefs for marine life and scuba divers. Artificial reefs are man-made structures that serve as habitats for sea creatures and attract divers from all over the world.
Salvaging of Valuable Equipment and Materials
Allowing various ship graveyards to bid on the ship makes the final price difficult to predict. There is also the fact that scrap metal values can fluctuate over time, so, in many ways, the global market dictates the value of a decommissioned cruise ship. Given that ship scrap yards purchase decommissioned cruise ships from cruise lines, you might wonder what they are actually worth. While seeing the skeletons of once glamorous cruise ships may appeal to some adventurists, most cruise ship graveyards are off-limits to the general public.
Despite the many reasons why cruise ships may be sold, the process can be complex and lengthy. Factors such as market demand, the ship’s condition, and buyers’ availability can all impact the sale process. In some cases, cruise ships may be sold through public auctions, while in other cases, sales may be negotiated privately. Cruise lines are constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience and stay competitive in the market. Older ships may be sold to other cruise lines or retired from service to make room for these newer ships.
The largest cruise ship scrap yard is in Alang, India, and it recycles more than 50 percent of the world's abandoned and decommissioned cruise ships. The repurposing and conversion of cruise ships exemplify the adaptability and resilience of these remarkable vessels. Instead of fading into obscurity, retired cruise ships find new relevancy and contribute to various industries, leaving a lasting legacy long after their initial voyages. One prominent regulation in the ship recycling industry is the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The convention sets out a comprehensive framework of regulations, guidelines, and standards to promote safe and environmentally responsible practices throughout the ship recycling process. However, ship scrapping also raises concerns regarding worker safety and environmental pollution.
Overall, the future of cruise ship disposal lies in sustainable practices, advanced technologies, and innovative approaches to repurposing and recycling. By embracing these trends, the maritime industry can ensure the responsible retirement and disposal of cruise ships, mitigating environmental impact, and contributing to a more sustainable future for the sector. Yes, most cruise ships are now subject to environmental standards, particularly regarding waste disposal.
Incredible hulks! Fascinating pictures show one of Britain's biggest ship graveyards, containing the wrecks of - Daily Mail
Incredible hulks! Fascinating pictures show one of Britain's biggest ship graveyards, containing the wrecks of.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
What Happens To Old Cruise Ships: Scrapping In The Cruise Ship Graveyard
Although scrapyards attempt to follow local regulations, there's still quite a bit of contamination that can happen throughout the scrapping lifecycle. Thanks to the effects of the COVID-19 cruise industry shutdown, several cruise lines sold off some of their oldest hardware in an effort to eliminate costly upkeep on vessels that had been in service for decades. Instead, older ships are sold to ship breaking yards, where they are stripped and their parts sold on. There comes a time in a cruise ship's life when it simply can't be repurposed, or its systems are simply outdated.
Additionally, there has been increasing interest in converting retired cruise ships into underwater hotels or habitats. Through extensive refurbishments and modifications, these vessels are transformed into extraordinary structures that allow guests to experience the marine world directly. Immersed beneath the water’s surface, these underwater accommodations offer unparalleled views of marine life, creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for underwater enthusiasts. The repurposing and conversion of cruise ships offer opportunities to breathe new life into these retired vessels, preserving their legacy and maximizing their economic and environmental value. These ship graveyards provide a glimpse into the past, preserving the memory of retired vessels that once sailed the seas.
The first pieces of a cruise ship to be dismantled are usually the communications and navigation equipment, as these are the most valuable pieces on board. Then, the guest furniture and beds are brought out, as they can usually be repurposed. Steel and metal scraps are then smelted down for construction material or sold to car manufacturers. Depending on the size of each ship, each vessel typically needs a couple of thousand workers to recycle, and the process for each ship can take up to a year.
In the age of sail, the danger of Sable Island was due to the shifting sand bars that surround it, and the thick fog in the area due to the close proximity of the cold Labrador Current and warm Gulf Stream current. With the many advances in modern navigation, the two lighthouses have been decommissioned. This is often used as a last resort when a cruise line has retired one of its ships. Usually the ship 'breaking' process begins at the bow, with workers making their way through the ship until they reach the stern.
One recent example is the sinking of the American Glory, a small cruise ship that was deliberately sunk off the coast of Delaware in November 2019. The goal was to create an artificial reef that would provide new habitats for marine life and attract more tourists to the area. The American Glory had been decommissioned and was no longer in use, making it an ideal candidate for this purpose. Among those that were set to be sent to scrap was Global Dream II, a 9,000-passenger, 20-deck vessel with features including a waterpark and cinema, which never carried paying customers. Global Dream II may have been 2022’s standout case, but there are decades’ worth of cruise ship retirement stories to unearth.
There are several factors that contribute to the retirement process, including economic considerations, technological advancements, and changing market demands. New environmental regulations and pressure from local governments may reduce the number of cruise ships allowed to remain in a state of abandonment. As international regulatory organizations crack down on environmental regulations, cruise lines may face severe penalties if they do not remove their wreckage and damaged vessels in a timely manner. If someone is exploring a partially capsized vessel, there is always the chance that they will get trapped and drown. More remote abandoned cruise ships, like the MS World Discoverer, are even treacherous to get to.
Certain countries have also demanded stricter environmental standards for the scrapping industry, making operating a full-scale ship scrap yard more expensive. It will not surprise you that full-size cruise ships are constructed from massive amounts of high-grade, non-corrosive metal. When recycled correctly, this metal and electrical wiring can be worth an incredible amount of money, especially if it is not overly corroded.
With many countries still imposing travel restrictions and the public’s perception of cruise ships being negatively impacted by the pandemic, it was difficult for the industry to bounce back in the short term. To optimize their fleets and streamline their operations, multiple cruise lines have decided to retire older and less efficient cruise ships, increasing the number of vessels being scrapped. Additionally, the cruise industry has been continuously updating its technology and fleet to meet changing passenger preferences and to offer enhanced safety measures, further fueling the retirement of their oldest ships.
This usually happens after years of service, with several factors including a ship's size coming into play. Each conversion requires a tailored approach to fulfill the unique requirements of the intended use while ensuring the safety and comfort of guests or occupants. The Hong Kong Convention contains provisions for the safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials found in ships, such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other toxic substances.
