Ship breaking is the largest form of recycling on Earth, and is still done the hard way on the coast of Bangladesh. Ships sold for scrap metal are driven onto the mudflats at high tide, then dismantled with blowtorches. The multi-ton chunks are then winched ashore for cutting into smaller pieces and sent to a local smelter. About half of the ships being broken these days are old LNG tankers like this, which no longer meet international safety and efficiency standards. The regulations for ship breakers were changed last year, requiring coveralls, helmets, cranes, and a large concrete slab to ensure that all toxic materials are disposed of properly. This has driven up costs and put most of the ship breakers out of business, as they can’t afford the US$4-5 million required. This old tanker was purchased before the law passed, and is one of the last ships to be broken the old way.