Italian Shipping Companies Called Out Over Beaching Practices

Photo credit: NGO Shipbreaking Platform

Responsible shipbreaking advocacy group NGO Shipbreaking Platform has called out three Italian shipping over their supposed continued use of South Asian beaching yards and is urging they take immediate action to ensure the sustainable recycling of their end-of-life fleet.

The Platform has sent letters to the Italian ship owners Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli as well as the Italian Shipowners’ Association inviting them to initiate a constructive dialogue with the NGO.

According to the Platform, the shipping companies have continued to irresponsibly sell their vessels to shipbreaking yards that are globally acknowledged not to respect basic human rights and environmental protection standards. Since 2009, the three company’s have sold fifty-four end-of-life ships to South Asian beaching yards for substandard breaking, the group said.

In the letter sent to the Italian ship owners, the Platform says it reminded the companies of their obligations under European waste laws as well as the standards for safe and green ship recycling as set in the new European Regulation on Ship Recycling.

“None of the South Asian beaching yards meets the requirements of the new EU Regulation on Ship Recycling,” the statement read. “Based in the European Union, Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli are asked to adopt a ship recycling policy that is in line with EU standards and legislation.

“The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has constructively consulted with many responsible owners of vessels and has together with these companies identified sustainable solutions for clean and safe ship recycling. We would be glad to exchange with Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli about available solutions”, commented Ingvild Jenssen.

The Platform noted that Grimaldi Group has already responded to the letter, acknowledging the importance of proper ship recycling and thanking the group for bringing the issue to their attention.

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform was set up in 2006 and is a global coalition of 19 environmental, human rights and labour rights organisations working to end polluting and dangerous shipbreaking.

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