Brussels, 22/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - A further step was taken in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 October towards first reading adoption of revised EU legislation on recycling old vessels in order more effectively to combat the beaching and unregulated dismantling of old ships in developing countries.
The European Parliament voted by a wide majority (591 votes to 47, with 32 abstentions) to formally approve the informal trilogue agreement reached in June on the draft amended regulation which will ensure that, in future, EU-registered vessels will have to be scrapped in safe recycling facilities that will have to be operated in a “safe and environmentally sound manner”. The regulation will require all hazardous materials to be held throughout the recycling process; waste quantities will have to be documented and treatment authorised only in waste treatment or recycling facilities.
The new regulation will establish a list of authorised European recycling facilities and will ensure that all dangerous materials contained in the vessels are properly handled throughout the whole recycling process to prevent any damage being done to the environment or to the health of workers. All vessels, including those merely calling or anchoring in an EU member state, will be required to carry an inventory of all hazardous materials on board. (AN/transl.fl)