Norway keen to build shipbreaking industry:

DHAKA, NOV 13: The Norwegian government has showed its interest to take up a project for a sustainable and environment-friendly shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh, industries minister Dilip Barua said on Sunday. “The project with the funds from the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD) will help run a safe and environment- friendly ship recycling,” Barua told reporters after a meeting with the Norwegian ambassador Ragne Birte Lund at his secretariat office.

Draft outcome of the meeting:

Ø A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between International Maritime Organisation (IMO), NORAD and the industries ministry.

Ø A decision has also been taken to form an executive committee comprising the stakeholders concerned to implement the project.

Ø  The impact of ship recycling industries on the socio-economic aspects and environment will be evaluated in the first phase of the project, the meeting noted.

Ø  A sophisticated laboratory, combined effluent treatment plant (CETP) will be set up for environmentally sound recycling of ships, the meeting was told. Legal support will be given for forming a ship building and ship recycling board, according to a source close to the meeting.

Among others, industries secretary KH Masud Siddiqi, additional secretary ABM Khorshed Alam, senior consultant of NORAD Ashind S. Vigtel, senior adviser to the foreign ministry of Norway Lornts Finanger, director Sveinung Oftedal, chief of recycling division of the IMO Nikos Mikelis, chemical security and waste management specialist of UNIDO Dr Carlo Lupi, senior consultant of the Norwegian embassy Morshed Ahmed and adviser to the Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association Captain Salahuddin Ahmed attended the meeting.

Source: The Independent. 14 November 2011

http://theindependentbd.com/business/others/79641-norway-keen-to-build-ship-breaking-industry.html