Shipbreakers 

I work in Norway, demolishing oil platforms. The astronomical differences are just insane.

Films like this make you realise how lucky you are to live a comfortable life with prospects and hope

I'm really surprised the owner gave you such open access to his operation. Usually those shipbreaking yards are closely guarded and people who speak to journalists are immediately fired. The documentary is really great, eye-opening and absolutely shocking all at the same time. Next time we complain, maybe we should think of those people - just to put things into perspective.

Is it just me, or did anyone else’s heart break seeing that wee boy going to sleep outside with just the wee radio to keep him company

This is by far , one of THE best documentaries I have watched in many years. It held my attention to the point that I forgot I was watching this on RU-vid. Very Interesting , quality production and content. Thank you.

"Whether its the owner, contractor or supervisor... they want to squeeze the life out of poor people" -words of wisdom from a shipbreaker

The most heart touching fact is that they appreciate their work and have a noble attitude towards their work, even when they are engulfed with misery and poverty they seek to have a religious means to their life being deprived of love, care and joy. they seek some meaning to it.

"this dharna...the ships die so we could survive". One of life's paradoxes.

"...... A place where ships come to die, and men die with them..." Automatically suggests the documentary is world class, and is well done.......that was one of the best documentaries I have ever seen....though it is a sad one.

100 % truth, I beached a ship here 17 years back and the same contract I left the shipping industry after what I saw was done to nature and to the workers on the ground, it is a really terrible situation there, watching this documentary is just a mear insight to what goes on there but to see the reality one must visit in person.

I worked as a marine engineer for over 20 years. One of the more serious concerns when working on older ships was the amount of asbestos that was used in their construction. If it was known that a ship had asbestos used in its construction any structural work carried out would require testing for asbestos. If found a specialist team would be brought in to make the area safe, then we could carry out any repairs that were required. It is frightening to see the process used in this video. No regard for health and safety. I guess that is why the ship breaking yards are in these countries where laws are few and safety is of little concern. You an be sure that some individuals there and in the West are making a lot of money from this.

I work in the maritime industry and my friends are too. It seems that only a few people knows the end of giant ships. I learnt a lot from this video as a member of this industry and shocked that there are still people who works in such a dangerous environment with little hope.

I was thinking my job kinda sucks but after seeing this I'm actually looking forward to going to work tommorow

I watched this absolute masterpiece years ago and I’ve been looking for it since. Thank you so much!

In 2019 they opened a hospital, with doctors every day, ambulance service, x-ray, burns ward, operating room and some other facilities. Free of charge. It was funded by government, international donors, and one of the ship wreck yard owner.

"It's like smoking 15-20 packs of cigarettes a day. All the time. " said the doctor with a big smile on his face.

This documentary is one of the best iv'e seen in a long time, you do not see the narrator, he is cool; intelligent, serious, and to the point, others iv'e watched, the reporters keep showcasing themselves in the frame to show off what they are wearing, and how wonderful they look, it's distracting, then i just have to move on, not withstanding, i would love to see them in frame once in a while

My God. I have no words to describe the whirlwind of feelings I felt watching this documentary. I never imagined that the end of a ship's life would bring such sadness to human life. I pray to God to give comfort to all those involved and their families. Work hard to change their future. Thanks to the creators of this documentary for showing us the reality, excellent work!

The amount of years I've been after this documentary... I'm talking about more than 10 years. I've emailed NFB countless of times about it, I've even wanted to purchase it, but with no luck. They never even contacted me back. Anyhow, I am really grateful I can enjoy it here.

It is crazy to think of how much effort went into making those ships. You'd think it would take less to keep them going.

That unreal feeling when watching RU-vid ads interrupt to show you a commercial of latest luxury class smartphone.

"Work upwind" Brilliant advice from the shipbreaker doctor. He acted like he's the first one to think of it.

This film has a kind of savage beauty, a real work of art.

Such a powerful piece of work this. My hat's off to everyone who contributed.

I don’t remember when did I last watch, a documentary so powerful in terms of treatment and heart wrenching in terms of the idea and the issue discussed over here. If it’s not an eye opener , I wonder what would be

I work with the homeless and substance abuse but seeing this just makes me think, I’m off to India in January 2020 on a cruise, I’ve booked a private trip to Mumbai, I just have total respect and admiration for these wonderful people who work so hard just to survive. I feel so guilty.

The guy in the red t-shirt, he speaks pretty good English. Infact better than the owners. Usually people don't speak like this unless they are educated. Wonder what his story is, how he ended up being a ship breaker.

All people in the USA should have this as required viewing.

Real eye opener.Thanks for the upload. Some tough, fearless people right there now. I wish them well.

"And no blueprints to tell where to cut."..........A Korean built ship, Korean blueprints.....Even if they had a set, could they even read them? These guys are self taught and much like the men in America that built the Brooklyn bridge, the Empire State Building....ETC. Same conditions. Same danger. Same low pay for what they do. My Hat is off to all of them.

This is so sad. It makes me feel so spoiled for complaining about my so called problems! compared to these people's problems, I don't have any worth mentioning! Films like this make you realise how lucky you are to live a comfortable life with prospects and hope....Best doc I've ever seen.

My sincere salutes to all the team who made this documentary with absolute perfection.

someone from a Ted Talk said it best. To be born in a western country is like winning the lottery

I would like the children and the teenagers here in NZ to view this documentary and for them to think about just how lucky they really are with the lifestyle that they have been born into. I honestly felt sorry for the two brothers following the death of their mother, but even in that grime ship breaking world, there was a heart, in fact two hearts looking after those boys in need. An excellent documentary ..... well done!

This brought tears to my 68 year old eyes; human beings and especially children shouldn't need to exist in this hell hole.

This video changed my opinion about life...

They do honest work and are not scroungers... Hats off to these guys...

All of these dudes have thousand yard stares

After 10 minutes of watching I'm ready to mention this in any Reddit thread even remotely related to shipyards, shipbreaking, India or poverty. I'm an expert on these topics now.

What an eye-opening documentary. More like this should be made and seen.

I have torched scrap metal for 5 years in the U.S. I have cut almost everything imaginable. I wouldn't mind having a chance to be part of breaking a ship. Torch cutting is a skill and by what I have seen so far these guys are good at what they do.

thank you for uploading this, what a harsh life these people live.

Thank you for informing the world of this atrocity committed by all of the irresponsible people involved. I pray this situation will improve dramatically within a very short time. Peace & Love ❤️

The resilience of the human spirit, the ability to adapt to conditions some would consider unbearable even impossible is amazing.

I love the music at the end...awesome! FYI, I saw one of the very ferry ships that I have worked on for the Alaska Marine Highway System...the name of the ferry ship built in 1962, which ended up here in the same shipbreaking yard, in this video, was the State Ferry Taku! She was 55 years old when she was beached here...it was a sad event especially for the people that sailed and worked on her. Thank you.

Had the opportunity to visit this place last month (September,2019) things haven't improved much for the workers. they still live in the same conditions as seen in the video. Wages will never increase here as there are always people waiting to take up your place if you quit. The Gujarat government could have easily created a hostel for the workers and a good speciality hospital also while implementing stricter safety norms. Learn from Kerala government who built hostel for migrant workers even when there is no specific industry in the state.

Выбора у людей не много, фактически, его нет. Смотреть не просто. Прям до слез. Спасибо огромное за фильм, очень тронуло.

"If the cable snaps it could cut a man in half" Me: Stares at frayed cable *[Softly] don't*

Captain!!! I just parked the ship here for a few minutes then it dissolved into the hands of jawas!!!!

my uncle was a ship yard welder in early 1980s , working at port of San Francisco California. then the ship yard business ended in 1987 due to high labor cost and polution. he is over 90 years old now.

These are the men that build a nation! My hats off to them.

Peace… Shalom… Salam... Namaste and Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Mother Earth 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ 🌷 ❤

15:25 walking through that ship that is beached, with complete silence around you. very eerie vibes

Very well done documentary. This was hard to watch. It hurts to see what these men have to do , the work conditions, just to survive. I wish I was rich , I would help them all. No one should work under such harsh circumstances. I will never complain about my job again. 😔I pray for all these men and there family's.

The same story happened 40 years ago in China,and a lot of the people did this dangerous work not changed their life from poor to wealth since the works shifted to India.Good wishes to the workers :Be safe.

20 years had pass since this documentary had made , I wonder how's life are the mens in the video are getting on now ... I wished they are fine and being blessed 🙏

This is so sad. It makes me feel so spoiled for complaining about my so called problems ! compared to these people's problems , I don't have any worth mentioning ! I'm going to pray for them. Everyone should pray for them too .

Ive been to this shipyard as a child as a tourist with my parents. I got some really nice items, a pair of steiner binoculars for free which were really expensive that would have been thrown away otherwise. But yea, terrible condition from what I remember, fumes everywhere, hard to breath and the water- as black as I can remember

I live 20 km away from this place...believe me if this place shuts down my whole district will go bankrupt...as shipbreaking and re-rolling are only two industries that are left here

Excellent production. Congratulations to the whole team. A documentary for life! Very good!

This echo's of the days of the early U.S. when Factories, Mines, and other Industry treated citizens the same way. Children working 10 + hours a day. Men and Women used and tossed aside when they were too old or broken to keep up the pace. If you were hurt, tough $hit. Slowly unions and the reluctant Government had to do something. The saying never goes away. "If you do not learn from History.....

I visited in 1994 , climbed a rope ladder to have breakfast on a ship. Just fascinating, like a scene from Mad Max. Also the road into sells everything from the ship's. It was one of my goals when visiting India. Also visited Gardani beach in Pakistan. Yes I've always loved ship's. Sad to see them being destroyed.

Who's here after beating Hardspace: Shipbreaker and watching the credits?

Reports like this make you realize how lucky you are to live a comfortable life with prospects and hope

Wow. I just can’t believe they are so grateful for everything they have. The story of the kid that lost his mom from a snake really got me where I live.

very thought provoking,value of human life,poverty,very well done,excellent documentry

After watching this, I have a new found sense of just how fortunate I was to be born where I was, heartbreaking seeing the poverty and choices these people live with and how they live with it, incredible

Every time I'm having a bad day I watch this video and it cheers me right up. Thank you!

It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. I worked at Todd Shipyard in the summers of 1968-69 in Galveston, TX. It was a dirty, hot, miserable way to make my money for the next year's college expenses. Watching this video, I can still hear the sounds and smell the torches and smoke like it was yesterday.

I'm sure they will make a similar doccumentry when they clean up Scotty's garage.

I wish there was a way to trade every person here in the US that hates this country with a person working at this shipyard. I hate how people don't appreciate how good we have it and bring one of these ship breakers family's over here and watch what they will do with that opportunity

Really good documentary I had to right a paper for school upon this and wow I definitely taken what I have for granted

I can draw a lot of parallels between this and the conditions we saw in The Jungle (stockyards of Chicago in the 1890s)

My heart breaks for you, God Bless you, may he keep you safe... Such AMAZING people!

God bless those orphaned brothers.

40 years ago this happened in England, Turkey and Italy and no one cared. In fact, these ships and the technology that came with them brought the people in Alang and everywhere else the wealth and progress that enabled them to be anything else than a farmer, priest or soldier, drive cars, buy in supermarkets and browse the internet. Maybe in the future, robots and machines will replace the workers to scrap the future ships, but where will the people then work?

crazy seeing this, i work at a shipyard in the US and see alota of parts come from india!

No one person has the choice of what life they are born into but after watching this I am fortunate to be living my life.

It's not shipbreaking.. It's heartbreaking 😭

I visited Alang in 1994, climbed the rope ladder and ate breakfast on a ship. Great to see. The road in is lined with goods from the ships. They should run tours there. It is fascinating.

If an NGO wants to help, the first, easiest and least expensive way would be to get basic PPE to those workers. It would also greatly boost productivity so anyone in Alang supervision reading this should consider it. Eye protection makes it MUCH easier to cut fast and and accurately. (I have plenty of experience using cutting torches.) Gloves and boots make it easier to handle scrap and walk on dangerous surfaces. These could all be sourced in India and would create MORE jobs. Even if they don't care about workers the profit motive should interest the bosses. Lack of training is stupid. Accidents slow production. No one benefits.

An amazing film. It is hard to believe that people live and work (and die), in these conditions every day.

@9:50 this guy speaks proudly when talking about bringing the first ship onto this pristine beach in 1983. Seemingly, he is without a care in the world of his role in destroying a vast array of aquatic life and habitat for such in the 39 years since. He smiles as he states the fact that only the light house was here as they beached the first ship. The man is pure evil. Nowhere have I seen such murky brown waters in open ocean waters, where certainly this was not the view in 1983. How can the world look away while this is happening? I cannot believe this is tolerated to continue and expand here and several other similar locations while the rest of the world will perform these kind of activities with care for the environment and the workers. The reason why it expands is because they are able to pay the highest price for these vessels due to the fact they spend not one single dollar on containment of pollutants and proper disposal of hazardous materials, as well as neglecting the safety of the labor pool. What corporations in the world would allow workers to walk the site barefoot or at best in tattered sandals? This is an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe! The world community MUST make it a crime to let a ship change hands to such a location. This activity must end or our livable environment will.

Most of the Music and Songs used here are from bengali treasure.The narrator did awesome job being in the background and depicting the real concern of this unorganised industry as well as the saga of the unknown ship breakers and their sacrifice for livelihood. Overall, the story is about the real concern of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Hazards which needs immediate attention of Concerned Bodies local as well as Global.

All the hard work these people do and not even basic living conditions are offered...clean water, showers, laundry facilities, housing ect. So Sad

The way these guys go about such a huge and incredible task by feel and experience is breathtaking, the conditions they spend their lives working in are heartbreaking. Come on India sort it out this is awful.

This documentary is excellent and I like how little the narrator and crew are present. They guide the viewer through the film, but let the people and place tell their story in their own ways. I’d dig it after COVID, there could be a return film. See how things have changed, or not changed.

A wonderful documentary......... Heart touching...... Contractors and owners sucking the blood out of poor man's lives and pushing them to desperate living conditions. An eye opener ...definitely......to realize and introspect how lucky we are to have a place to live, good food to eat, good air to breathe, good water to drink and all the other luxuries of gadgets, furniture, so on....................still we see people around us, leading unsatisfied lives, blaming their fortune. High time to do self-introspection.........

This is a very well made documentary, sad to watch, but also real...!

All those toxic waste go into the sea and finally end up in the human stomach in the form of sea food which is also exported to many countries.

Good evening I don’t normally comment on the things I watch on RU-vid but I fell compelled to thank the film makers for one of the most moving documentary’s I have ever watched thank you

DOJ, DOL, OSHA and EPA would have a heart attack seeing this in the USA! The US thank God can afford to have protections from this position and at the same time I have such respect and massive sadness of the poverty-stricken people!

"Deliver us across this ocean of suffering O'Kali, destroy our sorrows. O'Kali, your sword annihilates demons, it makes the oceans roar. Your darkness is the beauty. Our birth and death are yours".

This was hard to watch. Gave me another reason NOT! to complain about the littlest things. God bless those workers who risk it all to put food on their families tables. 🙏🏽🙏🏽

Phenomenal documentary. Music, narration, content. Perfect

Thank you NFB for the special documentary about the life of things and people.

Respect to these people, I never heard of this shipbreaking, that’s a HARSH life

Very interesting to see how another part of the world find a way of making a living.

The best documentary that l watched in lock down days. So intense & l really hope the life of all brothers & sisters out there will get better one day .

These men are absolutely badass.