Disconsolate Existence In Ships’ Graveyard

“This is an emblematic depiction of the agony of hard labor. For saving themselves from hunger, they breathe in asbestos dust and toxic waste, thus they risk their lives everyday. On the verge of death, they risk their lives in order to endure themselves. They are passing their days on one of the world‘s most unregulated and hazardous industries, leaving a trail of debris, disability and death in its wake. I spend 10 days in the Gaddani ship-breaking yard north of Karachi in 2005. I witness workers dismantling large ships, piece by piece using no protection, in absence of tools, where one wrong move could result in death, they continually depending in their bare hands. In a city of dying ships flames with smoke rising, tormented with ship body parts, metal residue, asbestos, and oil spills. Barefooted workers with little access to necessary tools are vanishing ships on the rusty sand of Gaddani and break down these steel giants coming from all the harbours of the world.” – Gmb Akash

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

The beach of Gaddani, 50 miles north of Karachi in Pakistan, has become one of the two world biggest cemeteries of super tankers, cargoes and other vessels in the world. Thousands of men, mostly Pashto migrants, toil over the ships. They are seasonal workers, a large number of native and immigrant workers returning to their homeland near the Afghan border at harvest time. The group consists of–perhaps from Afghanistan. They pine for their beloveds, whom they get to see only during the year ends. For around USD 1.20 a day, thousands of workers labour to dismantle dozens of ships each year at the ship-breaking yard in Gaddani.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Rashed, a labourer at the Gaddani ship-breaking yard has worked for five years dismantling ships. He said: “Had we had any other way of earning bread, we would not have come here.” Workers are always under high risk of accident, though they hardly care to secure themselves. Under hitting rains of sparks, blowtorches split through the thick steel skin of a ship. As they are cut lose, the pieces of metal plummet to the ground with a roar. I saw workers, toiling ceaselessly, as though banished forever to an underworld.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

Many workers operate in tight spaces where the air is thin, and in high temperatures caused by hot welding, which is widely used, not to mention that they are constantly exposed to flammable liquids like paints and solvents. The work carried well into the night shipyard in Gaddani, Pakistan. This is the ship graveyard that serves as the final destination for a significant part of the world’s fleet.

© GMB Akash / www.gmb-akash.com

“Barefooted workers would take apart, bit by bit, the dying ships with their bare hands, shipyard in Gaddani, Pakistan. On their shoulders, workers bore great metal plates to their destination.People complain about their crappy lives working in an air conditioned work place, imagine having this as your only option in life.”

– Gmb Akash

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Tags: akash, asia, Baluchistan, Bangladeshi photographer, channel, children, climate change, colour photographer, colour photography, Dhaka, discrimination, Gmb Akash, gmbakash, hard-life, Human rights, Industry, kids, Labour, Lasbela, life in port, Pakistan Gaddani, Photographer in Bangladesh, photographers in Dhaka, Photography, Portrait, poverty, Recycling, reuse, ship, ship breaking, Shipping, shipyard, south asia, trauma, work

29 thoughts on “Disconsolate Existence In Ships’ Graveyard”

alessandro ciapanna on March 25, 2012 at 6:59 pm said:

great photo set.

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 5:42 am said:
  
  Thanks a lot!
  
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Apratim Saha on March 25, 2012 at 7:01 pm said:

Excellent post ! All the pictures are really great and the information is also just perfect !

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:05 am said:
  
  Thanks for penning you thought my friend.
  
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Md. fakrul Islam on March 25, 2012 at 7:04 pm said:

Very nice concepts, you are really a great photographer,go Ahead, Allah with you brother.

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Krishnam on March 25, 2012 at 7:06 pm said:

Another heart touching story Akash. There are very few photographers who do this kind of work. I want to know or see someone from India doing this. I’m sure there will be someone but I still have to discover him/her.

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- k on May 29, 2012 at 7:20 am said:
  
  Ryan Lobo
  
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aytacgok on March 25, 2012 at 7:06 pm said:

Reblogged this on 10th Village.

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Cardinal Guzman on March 26, 2012 at 8:21 am said:

Great socio-political photo journalism you’re serving here. Thank you very much! These workers are being exposed to different poisons and they wear no protective gear as helmets, gloves etc.

It’s cheap for the multinational corporations to send the ships here, instead of chopping them up in the West where the expenses are bigger when it comes to salary & security measures creates extra costs.

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 5:46 am said:
  
  it is my duty as a photographer and artist to point with my pictures at every aspect of existence in the society and world I live in, to show what can be shown, to go deep into every milieu and also into every aspect of poverty, deprivation and hardship that I encounter – because the only sin for a photographer is to turn his head and look away.
  
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namitasunder on March 26, 2012 at 10:22 am said:

very informative and touching…..

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:04 am said:
  
  Thanks for sharing your thought dear. You all inspiring me s lot!
  
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Francis Douglas on March 27, 2012 at 12:58 pm said:

OI clean shit toilets in a shopping centre where lazy dirty people leave paper nappies stuffed to clog the loo. That is how I exist. Thank you all the 1,000s a week of dirty people i clean their shirt up.
I’m a “CLEANER” that’s my job. I empty the med bin. Oh it’s left for the cleaner. Abbot wants to pay for lackies to look after kids for white Oz Mums. Slave trade coming up for boaties and Muslim Packies and a few Indians. DON’T FORGET THE ON LINE LABOUR AT THE BLACK MISSIONS…..

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:19 am said:
  
  It is frustrating how people have to suffer in so many ways. My sincere hugs for you to continuing a very important work for this civilized people, who will understand one day to give right and respect to workers of all horizon.
  
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kevin on March 27, 2012 at 1:00 pm said:

Another heart touching story Akash. There are very few photographers who do this kind of work. I want to know or see someone from India doing this. I’m sure there will be someone but I still have to discover him/her.

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:23 am said:
  
  I will feel little if I cant put their hardship properly. Glad to know that, I able to do that. India, Bangladesh has similar subject and mostly suffering in same way.
  
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Francis Douglas on March 27, 2012 at 1:13 pm said:

Aydee Fic Allah be with you brother..

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:24 am said:
  
  You are so kind.Thanks from heart.
  
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Aijaz Ahmed Khan on March 27, 2012 at 2:53 pm said:

I m a Pakistani and Thanks to you for your outstanding work ..
Gadani Ship Breaking industry is playing very important part but their workers should facilitate …Thanks.

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:25 am said:
  
  Yes, Bangladesh and India also suffering in the same topic. We all wish all workers gets their rights and securities.
  
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Suprakash Paul on March 28, 2012 at 6:18 am said:

Nice concepts, nice picture. May God bless you.

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- Gmb Akash on March 29, 2012 at 6:25 am said:
  
  Thanks a lot! May god bless all living souls.
  
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Shah Newaz Khan on April 5, 2012 at 3:23 pm said:

Dear brother, what can i say……………….Great work.You are the proud of our country.

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- Gmb Akash on April 8, 2012 at 5:28 am said:
  
  Thanks for the appreciations. Best wishes to you.
  
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chris on April 6, 2012 at 10:47 pm said:

god bless you brother GMB

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- Gmb Akash on April 8, 2012 at 5:27 am said:
  
  Thanks a lot! god bless you too brother.
  
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Sheila on April 15, 2012 at 12:09 am said:

Thank you again for your enlightenement. You are giving us a telescope to look at the world … we are forced to see the harsh realities of many … Dare with look. Easier to watch the fantasies of TV … yet I think we all know we can no longer avoid the truth. Despite the danger and hardship, I see the will in the soul’s you photograph … how inspiring.

Sheila – Canada

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- Gmb Akash on April 25, 2012 at 1:40 am said:
  
  thank you for your kindness and visiting the blog
  
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