Photos of abandoned, stripped cruise ships show how deeply the cruise industry is sinking

Sophie-Claire HoellerNov 22, 2020, 19:36 IST

After the shipbreaking process, not a single scrap remains.Mehmet Emin Menguarslan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Photos of unused cruise ships getting stripped for parts show how the cruise industry is struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Maintaining cruise ships that aren't in use is very expensive, so many cruise companies are selling part of their fleet for scrap.
Since the pandemic hit, the number of cruise ships being dismantled for scrap has increased.
Because many shipyards had to close due to lockdowns, there's a waiting list for cruise ships to get dismantled around the world.

The travel industry is hurting as the coronavirus pandemic ravages on, but the US cruise industry, in particular, has been hard hit.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a no-sail order in March, which it changed to a "conditional sailing" one on November 1. This means that cruises could accept passengers, but only after making significant changes to their health and safety protocols. Most cruise companies voluntarily renewed the no-sail order through 2020 as they figure out these new measures.

Ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the world's largest cruise industry trade association, which represents 95% of the global cruising industry, projected that 32 million passengers would set sail in 2020 and that the industry was creating an economic impact of $53 billion in the US, and $150 billion worldwide.

The CLIA now estimates that "each day of the suspension of cruise operations in the US results in a total loss of approximately $110 million in economic activity and up to 800 American jobs."

For the shipbreaking industry, however, this means big business.

Photos of cruise ships being dismantled into scrap metal at bustling shipbreaking yards around the world illustrate just how deeply the cruise industry is hurting right now.

Photos of unused cruise ships getting stripped for parts show just how much the cruise industry is struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.

An aerial view of cruise ships being broken down for scrap metal at the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Nicola Mulinaris, the communication and policy officer at NGO Shipbreaking Platform, told Insider that they've seen an increase in the number of cruise ships getting scrapped since the pandemic hit.

The Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey is currently dismantling five cruise ships. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Nicola Mulinaris, the communication and policy officer at NGO Shipbreaking Platform, told Insider that they've seen an increase in the number of cruise ships getting scrapped since the pandemic hit.

He explained that cruise ships can be "extremely costly to maintain if they're not operational."

Two of the five cruise ships at the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey have already started getting scrapped. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Consequently, cruise companies, many facing financial troubles, are downsizing their fleets.

Cruise ships are scrapped by hand. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Carnival lost $2.9 billion last quarter, the New York Times reports. It has canceled trips into 2021 and is cutting 18 of its ships, per Good Morning America.

A worker uses a blowtorch to cut metal from a ship at a shipbreaking yard in Yangon, Myanmar. YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images

Three of those ships, the Inspiration, Imagination, and Fantasy, are being dismantled at the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey, alongside two other cruise ships.

Carnival is cutting 18 ships from its fleet as a result of the pandemic. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Almost 2,000 people are working to dismantle the five ships in Turkey, according to the New York Times.

Workers at a shipbreaking yard in Jakarta, Indonesia. Anton Raharjo/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Mulinaris said that because many shipyards had to close due to lockdowns, there's even a waiting list for cruise ships to get dismantled around the world.

Cruise ships are so large they can take many months to break down. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

In the past, cruise companies sold their ships to smaller companies, but because of the pandemic, no one can afford to buy them — nor would they want to.

A side-by-side view of two cruise ships in different stages of demolition at the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Cruise companies are also afraid of strengthening the competition, said Mulinaris, "so it becomes quite appealing to recycle the vessels and get money out of it."

The dismantled steering cabin of a French Navy vessel at the Galloo ship recycling plant in Ghent, Belgium. Francois Lenoir/AP

Generally speaking, cruise ships will sell their ships to scrap dealers through a broker. These will then pay the shipyards for their work, and make money selling scraps.

A worker welds part of a ship at a shipbreaking yard in Mumbai, India. Himanshu Bhatt/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Generally speaking, cruise ships will sell their ships to scrap dealers through a broker. These will then pay the shipyards for their work, and make money selling scraps.

According to Mulinaris, 90% of a conventional vessel is steel, which is recyclable. But machinery and furniture can also be sold.

Workers at a shipbreaking yard in Gaddani, Pakistan. AKHTAR SOOMRO/AP

"It's a treasure chest in there," an antique store owner told the New York Times about cruise ship interiors. "These are not regular ships; they are luxurious floating museums with many precious items inside."

Looking deep into the bowels of a cruise ship in the middle of getting dismantled in Turkey. Mehmet Emin Menguarslan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

"It's a treasure chest in there," an antique store owner told the New York Times about cruise ship interiors. "These are not regular ships; they are luxurious floating museums with many precious items inside."

Depending on where the ships are sold and scrapped, cruise ship companies could be paid between $150 to $400 per ton.

A makeshift cable carriage at a shipbreaking yard in Gaddani, Pakistan. Akhtar Soomro/AP

Carnival sent its ships to get scrapped in Turkey: While the prices there per ton are on the low end, according to Mulinaris, the working conditions are better and the recycling process more environmentally friendly.

The shipbreaking process usually starts in the ship's bow. Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Carnival sent its ships to get scrapped in Turkey: While the prices there per ton are on the low end, according to Mulinaris, the working conditions are better and the recycling process more environmentally friendly.

A cruise ship can take up to 10 months to dismantle, but it depends on both the vessel and the shipyard.

A worker at a shipbreaking yard in Jakarta, Indonesia. Anton Raharjo/NurPhoto/Getty Images

"Everything is taken out piece by piece, from the light bulb to the piano and swimming pool to the golf course," Kamil Onal, chairman of the Ship Recyclers' Association of Turkey, told the New York Times.

A worker carries a metal sheet dismantled from a ship at a shipbreaking yard in Yangon, Myanmar. YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images

"Everything is taken out piece by piece, from the light bulb to the piano and swimming pool to the golf course," Kamil Onal, chairman of the Ship Recyclers' Association of Turkey, told the New York Times.

Usually, ships are cleaned, stripped of anything that can be sold, then cut into small blocks, taking care to avoid hazardous materials. These pieces are then usually lifted away by crane, one by one.

A crane helps dismantle a ship at the Galloo ship recycling plant in Ghent, Belgium. Francois Lenoir/AP

Usually, ships are cleaned, stripped of anything that can be sold, then cut into small blocks, taking care to avoid hazardous materials. These pieces are then usually lifted away by crane, one by one.

Sometimes they are carried away by hand.

Workers carry a metal sheet dismantled from a ship at a shipbreaking yard in Yangon, Myanmar. YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images

Shipbreaking is dangerous work.

A worker uses a cutting torch on a large block cut from a vessel at the Galloo ship recycling plant in Ghent, Belgium. Francois Lenoir

Besides the obvious risks of sustaining injuries from operating heavy machinery, getting crushed, or falling, ships are also filled with flammable gases that can cause explosions and toxic elements like asbestos and lead.

Workers at a shipbreaking yard in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Maruf Hossain Rafi/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Besides the obvious risks of sustaining injuries from operating heavy machinery, getting crushed, or falling, ships are also filled with flammable gases that can cause explosions and toxic elements like asbestos and lead.

According to data by NGO Shipbreaking Platform, there have been 397 deaths inshipbreaking yards since 2009.

Workers climb down from decommissioned Indian Navy ship at a shipbreaking yard in Mumbai, India. Danish Siddiqu/Reuters

Shipbreaking is also bad for the environment. As it can be difficult to contain pollutants, oil spills, sludge, and heavy metal, contaminated debris are common side effects.

A burning oil tanker at a shipbreaking yard in Gaddani, Pakistan. Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Shipbreaking is also bad for the environment. As it can be difficult to contain pollutants, oil spills, sludge, and heavy metal, contaminated debris are common side effects.

Governments and organizations such as Mulinaris' NGO are working hard to improve working conditions for shipbreakers and to ensure more environmentally sound practices.

Workers dismantle a ship at a shipbreaking yard in Yangon, Myanmar. YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images

Cruise companies are working to turn things around, however, and are working to get passengers on the ocean as soon as safely possible with measures like mock cruises to test safety measures.

A worker at a shipbreaking yard in Jakarta, Indonesia. Anton Raharjo/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Cruise companies are working to turn things around, however, and are working to get passengers on the ocean as soon as safely possible with measures like mock cruises to test safety measures.

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Photos of abandoned, stripped cruise ships show how deeply the cruise industry is sinking

Photos of unused cruise ships getting stripped for parts show just how much the cruise industry is struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Nicola Mulinaris, the communication and policy officer at NGO Shipbreaking Platform, told Insider that they've seen an increase in the number of cruise ships getting scrapped since the pandemic hit.

He explained that cruise ships can be "extremely costly to maintain if they're not operational."

Consequently, cruise companies, many facing financial troubles, are downsizing their fleets.

Carnival lost $2.9 billion last quarter, the New York Times reports. It has canceled trips into 2021 and is cutting 18 of its ships, per Good Morning America.

Three of those ships, the Inspiration, Imagination, and Fantasy, are being dismantled at the Aliaga Ship Recycling Facility in Turkey, alongside two other cruise ships.

Almost 2,000 people are working to dismantle the five ships in Turkey, according to the New York Times.

Mulinaris said that because many shipyards had to close due to lockdowns, there's even a waiting list for cruise ships to get dismantled around the world.

In the past, cruise companies sold their ships to smaller companies, but because of the pandemic, no one can afford to buy them — nor would they want to.

Cruise companies are also afraid of strengthening the competition, said Mulinaris, "so it becomes quite appealing to recycle the vessels and get money out of it."

Generally speaking, cruise ships will sell their ships to scrap dealers through a broker. These will then pay the shipyards for their work, and make money selling scraps.

According to Mulinaris, 90% of a conventional vessel is steel, which is recyclable. But machinery and furniture can also be sold.

"It's a treasure chest in there," an antique store owner told the New York Times about cruise ship interiors. "These are not regular ships; they are luxurious floating museums with many precious items inside."

Depending on where the ships are sold and scrapped, cruise ship companies could be paid between $150 to $400 per ton.

Carnival sent its ships to get scrapped in Turkey: While the prices there per ton are on the low end, according to Mulinaris, the working conditions are better and the recycling process more environmentally friendly.

A cruise ship can take up to 10 months to dismantle, but it depends on both the vessel and the shipyard.

"Everything is taken out piece by piece, from the light bulb to the piano and swimming pool to the golf course," Kamil Onal, chairman of the Ship Recyclers' Association of Turkey, told the New York Times.

Usually, ships are cleaned, stripped of anything that can be sold, then cut into small blocks, taking care to avoid hazardous materials. These pieces are then usually lifted away by crane, one by one.

Sometimes they are carried away by hand.

Shipbreaking is dangerous work.

Besides the obvious risks of sustaining injuries from operating heavy machinery, getting crushed, or falling, ships are also filled with flammable gases that can cause explosions and toxic elements like asbestos and lead.

According to data by NGO Shipbreaking Platform, there have been 397 deaths inshipbreaking yards since 2009.

Shipbreaking is also bad for the environment. As it can be difficult to contain pollutants, oil spills, sludge, and heavy metal, contaminated debris are common side effects.

Governments and organizations such as Mulinaris' NGO are working hard to improve working conditions for shipbreakers and to ensure more environmentally sound practices.

Cruise companies are working to turn things around, however, and are working to get passengers on the ocean as soon as safely possible with measures like mock cruises to test safety measures.