Brussels, 19/11/2008 (Agence Europe) -Without waiting for international negotiations to conclude, the European Commission has decided to move forward and ensure that the dismantling of European ships will be in line with the rules on security and environmental protection. On Wednesday 19 November, the College adopted a communication on the Community strategy to improve practices for the dismantling of vessels flying European flags or owned by European companies. Following on from the Green Paper published on the same subject (see EUROPE 9432), this strategy proposes concrete measures to ensure that the dismantling of these ships will be carried out in accordance with the safe and ecologically sustainable methods, without having to wait for the drafting and entry into force of an international convention of the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) on the recycling of ships scheduled for 2015. The Commission is also planning to extend the same rules to military and state-owned vessels not covered by the rules of the convention and to set in place an obligatory funding system in favour of "clean" ship breaking. It has also provided for measures to encourage voluntary actions on the part of the maritime sector and better application of current Community legislation on the transfer of waste.
Essentially, the strategy adopted on Wednesday proposes: - to carry out preparatory work ahead of the introduction, as soon as possible, of the main elements of the international convention, particularly regarding technical visits, certification and the inventory of dangerous material present on board vessels; - to encourage voluntary actions on the part of the sector by means of incentives (prices to recompense ecological recycling, publication of guidelines and a list of clean dismantling installations); - to provide technical assistance and support for developing countries for training programmes on security and the creation of appropriate infrastructure; - to improve the application of current rules on the transfer of waste, by stepping up controls on European ports, reinforcing cooperation and the exchange of information between the European authorities and drawing up a list of vessels which are ready for demolition. The strategy also proposes that the Commission will look into the feasibility of measures to bring in a regime of controls and certification for ship recycling plants the world over, and establish an obligatory funding system designed to support "clean" ship breaking (the study is due to be launched before the end of the year). "The best way to resolve the ship dismantling crisis is to work together at EU and international level", said, Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment, in a press release. "As we look forward to a globally binding convention next year, the EU is already working to support the new rules", Mr Dimas added. According to the Commission, between 200 and 600 large merchant vessels are dismantled every year, mainly on the beaches of southern Asia, principally in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Only India has at this stage developed infrastructure for the management of dangerous waste, training and a system of healthcare for workers. The absence of environmental protection and security measures has led to a high accident rate, health risks and large-scale pollution. This risk is set to become worse, as the dismantling of single-hull oil tankers is set to hit its maximum level over the next few years, with nearly 800 of these oil tankers earmarked to be withdrawn from circulation. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is preparing a convention on the recycling of ships using safe methods, which will be binding at international level. The final negotiations will conclude in May 2009, but, according to the Commission, the convention is unlikely to enter into force before 2015. (A.By./transl.fl)