- Indian Beaching Yards Remain Excluded From EU Recycling List.
- Safety and Environmental Concerns Persist at EU-Approved Facilities.
- Call for Greater EU Investment in Green Ship Recycling Capacity.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform is calling on the European Union to take action by removing all Turkish ship recycling yards that utilise the landing method, continuing to exclude Indian beaching yards, and investing in recycling capabilities that align with circular economy and decarbonization goals, reports Safety4Sea.
EU Consultation on Recycling Facilities
The European Commission has kicked off a consultation regarding the 15th update of the EU List of ship recycling facilities. The NGO expressed approval for the removal of Turkey’s Dörtel yard, citing unsafe dismantling practices and poor pollution control, but emphasised that this step doesn’t adequately tackle the larger, systemic issues at play.
Ongoing Safety and Environmental Concerns
The NGO highlighted that serious safety and environmental problems persist at EU-approved Turkish yards, including recent fatalities among workers. They cautioned that allowing facilities outside the EU that don’t meet EU standards creates a troubling double standard.
Indian Yards Remain Excluded
The updated list did not include any Indian yards, which reflects the EU’s ongoing rejection of beaching as a viable ship recycling method. The NGO pointed out that beaching does not effectively contain pollutants and is either banned or being phased out in several countries.
Capacity and Accountability Debate
The Platform dismissed claims that EU ship recycling facilities lack the capacity to handle demand, arguing that the real issue lies in the insufficient supply of ships rather than any technical shortcomings. They noted the record profits being made by shipping companies and urged the EU to close legal loopholes, hold shipowners accountable, and enhance recycling capacity within Europe. The NGO believes these actions would foster green jobs, promote circular industries, and ensure safer ship recycling practices.
“There is no better time than now to establish cross-sectoral synergies with both steel and construction sectors to boost circularity and ensure the availability of industrial platforms to dismantle all types of vessels “, said Ingvild Jenssen, Executive Director and Founder, NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
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Source: Safety4Sea
