05 September 2011

European project ‘RECYSHIP’ to address Occupational Safety, Health & Environmental protection issues of ship scrapping:


Recyship is an ambitious European project framed within the LIFE+ program in the action line of “Environment Policy and Governance” to be developed during the period 2009-2012. The intention is to address the issue of ship scrapping in matters of occupational safety, health and environmental protection.

This project seeks to support the European Commission in developing rules and guidelines in relation to vessels that, for various reasons, must be removed becoming a unique residue very complex to manage.

With this project the European Commission addresses the controversial issue of decontamination and recycling of ships out of use in Europe and solving cases like the French case of the Clemenceau (15 feb. 2006) or the dutch case of the Otopán (21 feb. 2007) and seeking to solve the problems of transferring ships out of use to countries in Southeast Asia (Pakistan, India and Bangladesh mainly) where ships are dismantled in the absence of environmental controls and security for workers.

For that reason a pilot plant will be develop to optimize the processes of ship decontamination in order to encourage such operations on European territory and avoid international shipments of hazardous waste. At the same time it aims to develop an integrated management system of quality, environmental and occupational risk prevention applicable to such facilities in Europe and other countries.


The main objectives of this project, and the resolution of one of the aspects considered of pressing interest to the European Union are:

1. Helping to strengthen European legislation on waste from ships and ships as waste

2. Propose solutions for the full range of member states and companies and ships operating under their flags

3. Contribute with studies to increase the European capacity for decontamination and dismantling of ships

4. Provide technical assistance and technological transfer and of best practices for recyclers in member states and not EU members

5. Helping to promote voluntary actions

Phases of the project:


The project is divided into the following actions and sub-actions:

A1 ACTION 1: COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT

1.1 Technical Management
1.2 Administrative Management
1.3 Coordinated Project Monitoring
1.4 Reports to the Commission

A2 ACTION 2: CONTROL AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

2.1 Quality Plan
2.2 Quality Control
2.3 Indicators control table

A3 ACTION 3: STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATION

3.1 Analysis of laws and regulations
3.2 Proposal of laws and regulations

A4 ACTION 4: STRATEGIES OF STAKEHOLDERS

4.1 Identification
4.2 Workshops

A5 ACTION 5: METHODOLOGIES AND PROCESSES OPTIMIZATION

5.1 Review of capacity and impact for the selection of host environments
5.2 Typing and classification of ships
5.3 Classification and characterization of waste
5.4 Methodological Analysis of the processes
5.5 Integrated Management System: quality, environment, safety and health

A6 ACTION 6: PILOT TEST

6.1 Selection of location and permits updates
6.2 Staff Training
6.3 Conditioning of facilities
6.4 Acquisition and transfer of the ships
6.5 Decommissioning and waste segregation
6.6 Analysis, processing and validation of results
6.7 Implementation and Validation of Integrated Management System

A7 ACTION 7: FEASIBILITY STUDY

7.1 Market Analysis
7.2 Economic feasibility plan

A8 ACTION 8: DIFFUSION

8.1 Project identification
8.2 Communication Plan
8.3 On-line training plan
8.4 RECYSHIP website
8.5 Publications
8.6 Material Disclosure
8.7 Fairs and Conferences
8.8 Conferences and seminars
8.9 Layman Report

Expected Results:

1. Proposal of regulations for proper management of ships out of use

2. Inclusion of the needs, problems and expectations of stakeholders

3. Definition of potential host environments (based on ability and ecological criteria)

4. Streamlined processes for decontamination and dismantling of ships out of use for the environmentally sound management of European ships

5. Solving environmental problems of the current scrapping yards

6. Feasibility Plan for decontamination and dismantling of ships out of use facilities

7. Knowledge of project at local, national and European level

8. Strengthening the dissemination of the LIFE+ program with planned activities and results of the project themselves.

Recyship Progress Summary As At 31 December 2010

RECYSHIP closed 2010 with good progress in implementing its actions and so continues its journey into 2011.

At the next meeting in February the technical and financial progress of the project will be assessed, based on technical and financial reports submitted by each partner.

RECYSHIP is actively working on the design and construction of prototypes for key processes on ship recycling: metal cutting, stripping paint from the hull and segregation of waste. Fatronik, TECNALIA currently, is developing a prototype that is expected to revolutionize the ship recycling industry.

Preparations are being finalized by Navalria to host the pilot tests at their shipyard from the month of May 2011, where RECYSHIP can test the effectiveness of the processes of decontamination and dismantling of end of life ships conducted in an environmentally sustainable, safe and economically efficient manner.

RECYSHIP partners are currently working in the acquisition of ships for testing through tenders or direct purchase from owners. For the month of February is expected to obtain at least 2 fishing boats from 250 to 300 tons. At the same time carries on the search for a location to perform dismantling of larger ships by flotation process.

During this year, RECYSHIP started with the informational mailings (newsletters) to different interest groups with the intention of keeping them informed of progress and at the same time, to obtain information on developments and special needs. A Blog, with a strong vocation to become the virtual meeting place related to the dismantling of ships in Europe, will support this initiative.

For this 2011, RECYSHIP intended not only to attend the 6th Annual Ship Recycling Conference to be held in late summer, but the intention is to come as speakers to present a preview of the results of the project.

At the next meeting of members will raise the actions expected for 2011 and the critical issues that at this time present the project. In order to cover the year satisfactorily, the technical managers of the project will show that it is crucial to meet commitments and deadlines in 4 critical points:

  1. Building prototypes.
  2. The purchase of ships.
  3. The intensification of the dissemination activities under the Communication Plan prepared by RECICLAUTO.
  4. Blog development and its forums and their dynamics
It only remains to point out that this year will be when the diffusion of the project will gain real importance through the communication and diffusion plan of RECYSHIP.

RECYSHIP Consortium hopes that the winds will be favourable to all people who are making this project a success.

Contact: 
Reciclauto Navarra S.L.
NUEVAS OFICINAS RECICLAUTO - Edificio Plaza del lago
C/ Garajonay 47, bajo. 31621 Sarriguren (Navarra)
Tel: (+34) 948 153 529 Fax: +(34) 948 152 335

RecyShip Newsletter - February 2011

Source: RECYSHIP project website

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