08/01/2008
The average age of ships worldwide is about 20 years, the problem of ships navigating with considerable amounts of asbestos still on board is clearly far from being resolved. According to the International Labour Organization, old ships in which asbestos was used during construction contain on average six tons of it. The first report of the Italian Mesothelioma Register, compiled in 2001 and covering the period 1993-99, stated that maritime activities (both mercantile and military) were classified as third for frequency of reports of such cancers, together with metal-working and metallurgy.
The Italian Association SNOP (with a strong influence among the Health and Safety Inspection and Prevention Services of the Local Public Health Authorities) asks the cooperation of trade unionists and labour inspectors from different country in order to promote a world campaign of awareness and action against the risk of asbestos in the maritime transport.
