An enormous "Cruise Ship Graveyard" on the coast of Turkey is the final resting place for many, many retired ships. And more ships are being retired than every before.
At Aliaga on the east coast of Turkey, the ships are run aground on the beach. It is so busy at the moment that the gigantic cruise ships are jammed so close the sides are touching.
With the pandemic causing a downturn in cruising and holidays, one industry is thriving - the scrap metal industry. #7NEWS https://t.co/quUzoW673Z
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) September 28, 2020
Once they are secured, around 1000 workers will strip the boat for scrap metal in a process that takes up to 8 months. About 98% of a ship can be recycled, with the rest sold off.
The recyclers anticipate having one of their biggest years ever, thanks to Covid-19 putting the brakes on the cruise industry.
Ship Recyclers Association of Turkey general manager Ersin Kaptan told 7 News that the main driver of business was the pandemic.
"Every time a crisis occurs in the maritime tourism industry, the crisis is reversed in our sector."
Check out this incredible video recorded from the Carnival Imagination was it was beached.
In the United States, the CDC has put in place a "no sail" order till the end of September. However, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA); has said its members will not sail until at least 1/Nov and some individual cruise lines have cancelled their sailings till early 2021.
Australia has banned all cruise ships from entering the country till 1/December.
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