EU ship owners could face penalties
for scrapping vessels in the developing world under revised proposals by the
European Parliament's Environment Committee for a ship recycling scheme funded
by a recycling levy. According to MEPs the plans would clean up the scrapping
of old ships and ensure the materials are recycled in EU-approved facilities
in-line with the 'polluter pays' principle.
The EU Parliament explained that the
draft regulation aims to reduce the adverse effects of careless scrapping, such
as accidents, injuries or damage to human health or the environment, by
ensuring that EU ships, and non-EU ships that have called regularly at EU
ports, are scrapped in EU-approved facilities worldwide.
"Currently, most EU ships are
sent to South-East Asia at the end of their lives, where they are beached and
their hazardous materials harm human health and the environment," claimed
Carl Schlyter, the MEP steering the legislation through Parliament.
Under the proposals, member states
would be required to ensure that an inventory of hazardous materials is
established on each ship.
Non-EU ships entering a port or an
anchorage of a member state would also need a hazardous materials inventory
aboard. If an inspection showed that the condition of ship does not match the
inventory, penalties could be imposed.
According to the committee, to help
make the scheme economically viable, a recycling fund should be set up. Both EU
and non-EU ships should be able to use the fund, which would be financed, in
line with the 'polluter pays' principle, by a recycling levy to be charged for
any port call by EU or non-EU ships.
Source:
Waste Management World
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