The European Commission’s evaluation of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) has revealed critical shortcomings, particularly concerning the circumvention of the regulation through “out-flagging” and deficiencies in hazardous waste management standards. Despite these findings, the Commission is not immediately pursuing a revision of the EU SRR, reports Shipbreaking Platform.
Evaluation Released
An evaluation has been released, announcing a forthcoming report on the feasibility of a return scheme for ships trading within the EU. This scheme aims to encourage the use of EU-approved ship recycling facilities.
The evaluation also seeks to clarify the application of corrective and punitive actions when deficiencies are found during ship recycling facility inspections. It emphasizes the importance of unannounced inspections to ensure the EU Ship Recycling Regulation’s (SRR) effectiveness.
To maintain skills in the maritime and circular economy sectors and to increase capacity for handling the growing number of end-of-life vessels, the EU’s ship recycling approach must adhere to the Polluter Pays principle and align with the European Green Deal’s objectives. These objectives include optimized material recovery and zero-emission industrial activities. Ship recycling must be considered a key factor in decarbonizing the European steel sector when setting targets and policies under various EU initiatives.
The evaluation also found that the EU SRR standards and their implementation are not adequately aligned with EU safety and environmental regulations. Therefore, the European Commission plans to develop clearer criteria for approving ship recycling facilities within the EU.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform suggests incorporating measures to maximize material recovery from ships, especially in steel recycling. They also recommend establishing clear requirements for environmental, health, and safety monitoring and reporting to ensure all yards on the EU List fully comply with EU standards.
Inclusion Of Indian Yards
The shipping industry is lobbying the EU to include Indian beaching yards on the EU List of approved ship recycling facilities.
However, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform warns that this would compromise the EU Ship Recycling Regulation’s (SRR) goal of creating a fair competitive environment for yards that adhere to EU safety and environmental standards.
The NGO argues that accepting Indian beaching yards would jeopardize the future of the EU ship recycling sector and the investments made in industrial platform-based recycling facilities that offer full containment.
The evaluation acknowledges that the International Maritime Organization’s Hong Kong Convention has significantly weaker standards than the EU SRR.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform supports the EU’s initiative to lead international efforts to amend the Hong Kong Convention, aligning it with the EU SRR. They also advocate for the full and effective implementation of the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement and disposal of hazardous waste, as it applies to end-of-life ships.
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Source: Shipbreaking Platform
