Turkey’s Aliağa Ship Recycling Zone Under Fire Amid Toxic Ship Dismantling and Criminal Allegations
ALİAĞA, TURKEY – JULY 10, 2025 — Aliağa, Turkey’s premier ship recycling hub, has come under a storm of criticism following a string of alarming developments that environmental and labor rights organizations warn reflect deep-rooted systemic failures. At the heart of the growing controversy are serious allegations of environmental pollution, regulatory negligence, and disregard for worker safety — all tied to a pattern of “slow violence” unfolding within this industrial zone, according to the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
In the latest incident, a fire broke out aboard the FSO Sloug on July 3rd during dismantling operations. The blaze, reportedly caused by sparks igniting petroleum residues that had not been properly cleared from the vessel’s tanks, has reignited debates around the safety of shipbreaking procedures in Aliağa. Activists and experts argue the incident was entirely preventable and illustrates the consequences of lax regulatory enforcement.
“The fire on the Sloug is not just an accident — it’s symptomatic of a broader failure to enforce basic safety protocols,” said Ekin Sakin, Policy Officer at the NGO Shipbreaking Platform. “This tragedy could have been avoided with proper pre-cleaning and oversight. Unfortunately, such oversights are not the exception but the norm in Aliağa.”
Simultaneously, the recent arrival of the decommissioned British warship HMS Bristol has added fuel to the fire. The ship, originally constructed during the Cold War era, is widely known to contain large quantities of hazardous materials, including asbestos, toxic paints, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other chemicals long banned under international law.
Environmental engineers and labor rights groups have warned that dismantling a vessel of this kind requires a highly controlled, technologically advanced environment — something they claim Aliağa fundamentally lacks. They argue that the current shipbreaking yards, which often rely on outdated and manual processes, are ill-equipped to handle such hazardous materials safely.
“The presence of HMS Bristol here is deeply concerning,” said a spokesperson for a local labor coalition. “This isn’t just about one ship. It represents the continued willingness of governments and companies to treat Aliağa as a dumping ground for the world’s most toxic maritime waste.”
The situation has further escalated with the filing of a criminal complaint by a coalition of Turkish civil society groups, environmental watchdogs, and labor unions. The complaint targets several shipbreaking firms in Aliağa as well as public authorities, accusing them of engaging in environmental pollution, document falsification, and neglect of occupational health and safety laws.
These accusations, the coalition notes, are not speculative. They are rooted in years of documented official investigations, EU-level inspections, and local environmental monitoring that have flagged persistent non-compliance and regulatory blind spots.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform, which has long tracked the hazardous working conditions in South Asian and Turkish shipbreaking yards, calls the situation in Aliağa a form of “slow violence” — a term used to describe environmental degradation and occupational risks that unfold over time, often hidden from public view but with severe cumulative consequences.
In their statement, the NGO explains that workers at Aliağa are routinely exposed to toxic fumes, carcinogens, and physical dangers without adequate protective equipment or medical oversight. Local communities, too, bear the brunt, with reports of air and water contamination, rising respiratory illnesses, and environmental degradation.
Despite Turkey’s obligations under international agreements such as the Basel Convention — which governs the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes — campaigners claim enforcement is minimal, especially in industrial zones considered economically vital.
“Environmental protection, worker safety, and alignment with international standards are necessary to ensure a just and sustainable transformation of the ship recycling industry in Turkey,” said Ekin Sakin. “Without that, Aliağa will remain trapped in a dangerous and outdated model.”
Further complicating the situation is the recent sale of the Aliağa Ship Recycling Zone, a decision that has drawn fierce backlash from both the public and environmental campaigners. While local officials claim the privatization will lead to better regulation, infrastructure development, and land-use planning, critics argue the process has been shrouded in secrecy.
“Opaque negotiations, hidden waste storage, and a lack of stakeholder consultation have defined this sale,” said one environmental engineer familiar with the deal. “We fear it’s a step toward deregulation, not accountability.”
NGO Shipbreaking Platform echoes these concerns, warning that privatization without transparency will likely entrench existing problems rather than solve them. The group is calling for an independent review of the sale, a moratorium on dismantling highly toxic ships, and urgent investment in modern, safe dismantling infrastructure.
The controversy surrounding Aliağa is not without precedent. Over the past decade, shipbreaking has faced global scrutiny for being among the most hazardous industries — particularly when conducted without sufficient environmental and safety safeguards. Turkey, unlike South Asian counterparts such as India or Bangladesh, is part of the OECD and aspires to meet European Union standards, but critics argue its ship recycling practices remain far behind those expectations.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform and allied organizations propose a coordinated roadmap for reform. Key recommendations include:
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Independent audits of all incoming vessels to assess hazardous content before approval.
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Strict enforcement of international laws like the Basel Convention and the EU Waste Shipment Regulation.
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Phasing out of manual dismantling techniques in favor of mechanical, enclosed, and safer alternatives.
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Comprehensive training and equipment provision for workers.
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Community oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and environmental monitoring.
“Turkey has an opportunity to lead in responsible ship recycling, but only if it stops cutting corners,” said Ekin Sakin. “We need a shift in mindset — from seeing Aliağa as a profit zone to recognizing it as a space that demands justice, safety, and sustainability.”
As investigations unfold and international pressure mounts, the future of Aliağa’s shipbreaking industry hangs in the balance. Whether Turkey responds with meaningful reform or continues business as usual will not only affect its environmental and labor record but could also redefine the global perception of ship recycling standards in the coming decade.
