The Journey of Metal in Ship Recycling
Metal raw materials are needed in every field for production from maritime to construction, and from automotive to technology. Considering that 95% of all metals produced in the world are made of iron and iron products, it would be fair to say that iron is the foundation of almost all industries.
However, both the economic and environmental burden of providing all the metal raw material need from ore is high. As a result, recycling of iron and iron products is essential for sustainable environment and resource use. States are now carrying out activities to ensure the effective use of natural resources and to reduce emissions and turning to sustainable resources.
An average of two tons of iron ore, one ton of coal, half a ton of limestone and 3.5 tons of gas are used for the production of one ton of iron raw material from ore. Therefore, readily available iron and steel scrap is a vital raw material for the production of new steel and cast-iron products.
The steelmaking and foundry industries are highly dependent upon the ready availability of scrap from manufacturing operations and from the recovery of products that are no longer used or needed.
The steel industry has been recycling steel scrap for more than 150 years. Melting scrap metal requires much lower energy consumption compared to being produced from ore. The use of iron and steel obtained from scrap metals by melting them reduces the landfill load on disposal facilities and prevents the accumulation of unused scrap metal products in nature.
The Journey of Metal at AGS Facilities
Recycling process at AGS facilities starts even before the ship arrives to the facility. With rigorous planning and engineering calculations, the entire process is recreated for each asset. Each item with recycling possibilities is strategically calculated and the process is managed accordingly.
At every step of recycling, trained and competent AGS teams work to ensure safe operations. Separation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes at source and obtaining metal as raw material are the two main essential elements of the process.
AGS recycles metal with a ratio of 85% from scrap ships and other floating marine vessels that have completed their economic life. The recycled metal is melted as raw material in Dikkan Group foundries, to which AGS is affiliated. The molten metal is brought back into the production line to be converted into valve, cable, rod or plate.
The metal, which transforms into something else as it completes its useful life over the years and starts serving humanity for some other purpose, carries a trail of AGS throughout its journey.
AGS, in addition to metal, effectively separates other recyclable wastes at its source and sends them to Licensed Waste Treatment Facilities. Each year, thousands of tons of plastic, paper, wood and other types of non-hazardous waste, equivalent approximately to 10% of the amount of assets, are evaluated, retreated and recycled in licensed facilities.
Hazardous wastes such as Asbestos, PCB, PFOS, which threaten human life and natural life, and which should be sent to disposal at the first opportunity they can be treated, constitute approximately 3% of the annual total dismantling tonnage. In order to treat this type of hazardous waste, AGS receives support from licensed HAZ-MAT Experts.
Engineering
All of the operations of AGS, which has completed major ship recycling projects worldwide, are based on engineering calculations. AGS follows the developments in the sector with its experienced, expert, dynamic and young engineer team, and improves its operation and business manner day by day.
AGS provides security in all its operational processes with its technical team consisting of Marine, Environmental, Mechanical, Geophysics, Construction, Computer and Chemical engineers.
AGS's Marine Engineering Team provides: