The European Commission has published technical guidance for ship recycling facilities seeking approval under EU Ship Recycling Regulation.
The document provides clarifications in accordance with the relevant Hong Kong Convention provisions and taking into account the relevant guidelines of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Labour Standards (ILO) and of the Basel Convention.
Under the regulation, ship recycling facilities that intend to be listed as EU-approved will need to ensure safe working conditions, pollution control including proper downstream waste management and enforcement of international labour rights.
NGO, Shipbreaking Platform the move is inline with calls by environmental and human rights NGOs for a relocation of ship recycling to platforms that can ensure sustainable practices.
“Recycling yards that want to make it on the EU list of approved facilities need to meet high environmental and safety standards,” commented Ingvild Jenssen, policy director of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
“The EC is clear in its message: an unprotected beach is never going to be an appropriate place for a high-risk heavy industry involving hazardous waste management,” she added.
The NGO also noted that according to the EU, ship recycling is an industrial activity that needs industrial methods, equipment and standards. Workers and the environment anywhere in the world have the same right to protection under the EU Regulation.
The organisation added that attempts by some Member States with strong shipping interests to water down the requirements of the Regulation, more specifically, to accept low-cost beaching facilities in South Asia as environmentally friendly and safe for workers in order to make it on the list, have not been successful.
Global Reference Point According to the Shipbreaking Platform, the EU list of approved ship recycling facilities will become a global reference point for sustainable ship recycling.
It was said to reward the companies that already have or are willing to invest in the necessary infrastructure and the employment of fully trained workers to ensure safe and environmentally sound recycling practices.
The NGO added that the recycling yards responsible shipping companies such as Hapag Lloyd, Wilhelmsen, Grieg and Royal Dutch Boskalis work with in Europe, China and Turkey will most likely feature on the EU list after having provided evidence that they comply with the requirements, and in some cases also having improved their practices in order to meet the European standard.
By promising to clearly distinguishing good from bad practices, the EU list was said to have also already prompted the establishment of new facilities that see opportunities for an increased market share.
For ship owners, the NGO said that the EU list will be the only guarantee that their end-of-life vessels are not causing harm to workers and the environment.
Backed by ‘independent verifiers with qualifications’ and audits by the EC or agents acting on its behalf, a further important warranty lays in the right NGOs have to submit complaints and concerns to the EC regarding the functioning of a facility and with that prompt an on-site visit to establish whether the facility should be removed from the list.
“While only vessels sailing under an EU flag will be legally obliged to use an EU approved facility, any shipping company around the world with a responsible policy can use the EU listed facilities to prove their effort,” concluded Jenssen.
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