FRP Waste Ship Disposal Technology Progress - April 1995

FRP Waste Ship Disposal Technology Progress - April 1995
This is a detailed summary of the technology and situation related to FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) waste ships.

Background
FRP has been widely used for fishing boats and pleasure boats (motorboats, yachts, etc.) for the past 30 years. Currently, there are about 300,000 pleasure boats and over 100,000 fishing boats in Japan, most of which are made of FRP. However, when these boats are discarded, illegal dumping has become a problem. In 1994, 1,573 illegally dumped ships were confirmed nationwide, of which 618 (about 40%) were FRP ships.

Progress in Disposal Technology
1. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Technology
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is advancing the development of technology for disposing of FRP fishing boats and other waste. The company has been researching gasification processing technology for FRP waste ships at its Hiroshima Research Institute since 1992, and in 1994, it installed a test plant with a processing capacity of 2 tons per day at its Shimonoseki Shipyard. This technology involves low-temperature heating at around 700°C, where only the resin is gasified, leaving the glass fibers intact. This method is environmentally friendly as it does not generate harmful substances during incineration and prevents damage to the furnace.

2. Cross-Industry Group Initiatives
A cross-industry group in Shimonoseki City has also developed a low-cost, low-pollution FRP waste ship disposal system. The main feature of this system is that it can incinerate the entire ship without the need to remove the engine or propeller. The structure involves a primary combustion chamber that incinerates at around 600°C, with secondary and tertiary combustion chambers that completely burn off the toxic gases produced, thereby controlling pollution. The remaining glass fibers are reused as road paving material, and the metal parts are recycled.

Legal and Regulatory Developments
In 1996, the international standard for environmental management and auditing, "ISO 14000," is expected to be issued, which will place stricter environmental management responsibilities on shipbuilders and related manufacturers. Currently, FRP boats are classified as general waste (pleasure boats) and industrial waste (fishing boats), but particularly urgent measures are needed for the disposal of FRP fishing boats.

Conclusion
The disposal of FRP waste ships is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed by advancing technology while minimizing environmental impact. The technological developments by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the cross-industry group in Shimonoseki City provide effective solutions to this issue, and they are expected to play a major role in future FRP waste ship disposal. Furthermore, the introduction of ISO 14000 standards will necessitate stricter environmental management.