Brussels, 23/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - An end to the scrapping of vessels flying a European flag anywhere other than in facilities which are safe for workers and environmentally sound: this is the objective pursued by the new regulation on the dismantling of ships, which was proposed by the European Commission on Friday 23 March to tighten up the rules in this area, in view of the fact that the ban on scrapping vessels in poor countries currently in force (regulation on transfer of waste) is easy to get round. This proposed regulation, which goes further by transposing the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, is accompanied by a proposed EU ratification of this international agreement, which was signed in 2009 but has never been ratified by any country, not even those which announced their intentions of doing so (such as France, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey).
“You are aware of the scandal of large container ships and tankers taken apart on the beaches of non-OECD countries. We want to tackle the enormous environmental cost, the enormous human cost to the health and safety of workers in the recycling of these old ships. It is illegal to scrap vessels flying a European flag in non-OECD countries. However, this is what happens to 90% of European vessels, under unacceptable conditions. The geographical ban is ineffectual. The EU cannot legislate for the whole world, but it can do so for vessels flying European flags and send out a clear incentive throughout the world to ensure that scrapping is carried out under the conditions we have laid down. We wish to ensure that these ships are the subject of sustainable recycling under safe and environmentally sound conditions, and that there is consideration for the end of life of these ships throughout the life cycle”, Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik explained to the press.
The proposed regulation, which was put together jointly with Siim Kallas, Transport Commissioner, stipulates that European vessels will have to draw up inventories of dangerous materials present on board and request an inventory certificate in due form. The quantity of dangerous waste present on board (including residue from cargo, fuel, etc) must be reduced before the ship can be sent to an accredited recycling facility. Only facilities which observe a raft of requirements in terms of safety and environmental protection will feature on the list of internationally accredited facilities. Ship owners will be obliged to inform the national authorities of their plans to send a ship for recycling. By comparing the list of ships to which they have issued inventory certificates with the list of vessels recycled in accredited facilities, the authorities will find it easier to pinpoint and penalise illegal recycling operations. (AN/transl.fl)