The city of Nouadhibou is the second largest settlement in Mauritania, but due to the limited employment activities, it is also somewhat poor. This economic hardship, as it often does, led to widespread corruption in the local government. Dismantling large boats is a costly procedure, and many unscrupulous owners found that for a comparatively small bribe they could simply abandon their unwanted sea hulks in Nouadhibou's bay. Ships were brought from all over the world to be left in the shallow waters with a particular boom during the 1980's. Fishing trawlers, cargo vessels, and naval cruisers are just some of the varied types of boats among the over 300 rusting ships that have accumulated over the years like coral.