European Ship Recycling List Published But Non-EU Yards Forced to Wait

Ship recycling at the Galloo recycling yard in Gent, Belgium. Photo: Galloo Recycling Gent

The European Commission has published and adopted the first version of the long-awaited European List of accepted ship recycling facilities for exclusive access to EU-flag ships being sent for scrap. Unfortunately, yards located outside the European Union are going to have to wait a little longer.

The first 18 shipyards included in the List are all located in the EU. All have been vetted to comply with the strict requirements for inclusion in the list, which grants the yards exclusive access to recycling end-of-life ships flying the flags of EU Member States under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation.

The big question remains whether or not any yards in South Asia, particularly Alang, India, where safety and environmental standards have improved in recent years but the beaching method is still used, will be included in the List.

The EU Ship Recycling Regulation, adopted in 2013 and entering into force no later than December 31, 2018, requires, among other things, that all large sea-going vessels sailing under an EU Member State flag to use an approved ship recycling facility.

“I congratulate the 18 European companies which have made it on the European List of ship recycling facilities,” said Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. “The List sends a clear signal that there is business and employment in safe and environmentally sound ship recycling, starting in Europe. With the List we close the loop for the European naval industry: these ships were often designed and built in Europe; we can take care of them at the end of their life too – in a respectful way”.

In December 2015, the European Commission opened the application for inclusion to the list to yards in non-EU countries with plans to review applications and publish a first version before the end of this year. The European Commission now says applications from yards in non-EU countries are still being assessed, and their inclusion in the list will be decided sometime in 2017.

“”As regards ship recycling facilities located in a third country for which an application for inclusion in the European List has been submitted…, the assessment of the relevant information and supporting evidence provided or gathered is still ongoing. The Commission is to adopt implementing acts pertaining to those ship recycling facilities located outside the Union once the assessment is finalised,” the European Commission said in its decision.

Along with the first version of the European List, the Commission has also adopted four additional acts to provide information on hazardous materials in ships and facilitate the recycling process. The Regulation requires all ships visiting European ports – irrespective of the flag state – to carry on board an Inventory of Hazardous Materials starting in 2021. The EC says the measure is expected to improve sourcing of quality ship parts globally and benefit European shipbuilding yards. Already from the publication of the List, all EU flag ships going for dismantling must carry on board an Inventory of Hazardous Materials.

The full European List of ship recycling facilities can be found HERE.

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