The European Parliament’s environment
committee voted to create a Europe-wide ship recycling fund, in response to the
European Commission’s proposed rules to ensure that European ships are only
recycled in facilities that are safe for workers and environmentally sound.
More than 1000 large old commercial ships,
such as tankers and container vessels, are recycled for their scrap metal every
year, but many European ships end up in substandard facilities on the tidal
beaches of South Asia. These facilities mostly lack the environmental
protection and safety measures needed to manage the hazardous materials — such
as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tributyl tin and oil sludge —
contained in end-of-life ships. This leads to high accident rates and health
risks for workers and extensive environmental pollution, according to the
European Commission.
In 2009, more than 90 % of European ships
were dismantled in ship recycling facilities in non-OECD countries, some of
which were substandard. The quantity of European end-of-life ships is
significant, since 17 % of world tonnage is registered under an EU flag. This
makes it a priority for the EU to improve ship dismantling practices worldwide.
Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik
said: “Although the ship recycling sector has improved its practices, many
facilities continue to operate under conditions that are dangerous and
damaging. This proposal aims to ensure that our old ships are recycled in a way
that respects the health of workers as well as the environment. It is a clear
signal to invest urgently in upgrading recycling facilities.” The new rules,
which will take the form of a Regulation, propose a system of survey,
certification and authorization for large commercial seagoing vessels that fly
the flag of an EU Member State, covering their whole life cycle from
construction to operation and recycling.
Ship recycling facilities will have to meet
a set of environmental and safety requirements in order to be included on a
list of authorized facilities world wide. European ships will be allowed to be
recycled only in facilities on the list. Some of the requirements to be met by
the ship recycling facilities are stricter than those foreseen by the Hong Kong
Convention. This will ensure better traceability for European ships, and will
guarantee that the waste resulting from dismantling (and any hazardous
materials it contains) is managed in an environmentally sound way.
The proposal will see a recycling fund be
set up, which would be financed by a recycling levy charged for any port call
by EU or non-EU ships, writes Waste Management World. Owners of EU ships that
are sold for recycling and that end up sent to a beach or facility not on the
EU list would face penalties.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a global
coalition of 18 environmental, human rights and labor rights organizations
promoting clean and safe ship recycling, issued a press release in January
calling on the European Parliament and the Council to include a financial
mechanism in order to turn the Commission proposal into an effective instrument
to promote responsible ship recycling and to level the playing field globally.
“Every year, more European end-of-life ships containing hazardous materials are
sent to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Such practices are unacceptable and
Europe is in the driver’s seat to put a stop to this on-going human rights and
environmental disaster,” says Patrizia Heidegger, executive director of the NGO
Shipbreaking Platform. “Only a financial mechanism enforced in EU ports can
properly internalize costs and close loopholes, which have allowed ships until
now to escape legislation and accountability.”
The Shipbreaking Platform applauded the
vote.
Source: environmental
leader 3 April 2013
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