With the adoption of the first version of the 'European List of ship recycling facilities' the European Commission has taken an important step to help ensure that ships are recycled in facilities that are safe for workers and environmentally sound. From a date to fall at the latest on 31 December 2018, the 2013 EU Ship Recycling Regulation requires all large sea-going vessels sailing under an EU Member State flag to use an approved ship recycling facility.
The first 18 shipyards are all located in the EU. They fulfil the strict requirements for inclusion in the List and as a result will have access to the recycling of ships flying the flags of the EU Member States. Applications from yards in third countries are still being assessed. The Commission will decide in 2017 on their inclusion in the List.
Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said: "I congratulate the 18 European companies which have made it on the European List of ship recycling facilities. The List sends a clear signal that there is business and employment in safe and environmentally sound ship recycling, starting in Europe. With the List we close the loop for the European naval industry: these ships were often designed and built in Europe; we can take care of them at the end of their life too – in a respectful way".
Together with the first version of the European List, the Commission has adopted four further acts to provide information on hazardous materials in ships and facilitate the recycling process. The Regulation obliges all ships visiting European ports – irrespective of the flag they fly – to carry on board an Inventory of Hazardous Materials from the end of 2020 onwards. The measure is expected to improve sourcing of quality ship parts globally and benefit European shipbuilding yards. Already from the publication of the List, all EU flag ships going for dismantling must carry on board an Inventory of Hazardous Materials.
The European List is available here: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/ships/list.htm
Source: EC