More Turkish Shipbreakers Added to European List of Approved Ship Recycling Facilities

The European Commission has updated its list of approved ship recycling facilities, which now contains 48 yards located primarily in Europe and Turkey.

The list has been updated to include three new yards in Turkey, and the expiry date of two listed yards in Denmark and one in Italy has been extended by the Commission. The newly approved Turkish yards include Anadolu Ship Recycling, BMS Ship Recycling, and Kiliçlar.

The European List now includes a total of 48 facilities, of which 38 are located in Europe, 9 in Turkey, and 1 in the USA. The Commission noted that many of the yards on the list are capable of recycling large vessels.

The EU Ship Recycling Regulation requires large sea-going vessels sailing under EU flags to use an approved ship recycling facility from the European List, which have been determined to meet strict environmental and safety requirements. The regulation aligns with the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which is now set to enter into force on June 26, 2025.

European ship owners control around 40% of the world fleet. Historically, many of these ships have been dismantled outside the EU, mainly in South Asia, under conditions that are often harmful to workers’ health and the environment.

Initially the European List included only EU yards, but was later expanded to include third-country facilities primarily in Turkey. The List is regularly updated to include compliant facilities and remove non-compliant ones. Third-country facilities can apply and be evaluated by the Commission for their inclusion on the list.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up