26 October 2013

European Parliament agrees on ship recycling:

The European Parliament has adopted a new Ship Recycling Regulation by a large majority at a plenary sitting in Brussels.

The regulation is based on a compromise agreement reached in June in between the Council under the Irish Presidency, the Parliament and the Commission. The compromise covers agreement on the requirements for recycling facilities and certification of facilities located in other countries, as well as on so-called ‘built structures’ for recycling. The ECSA (European Community Shipowners Association) has welcomed the new Regulation.

According to ECSA, the agreement includes a timeframe for the inventory of hazardous material, its application date and a transitional period, together with a package on sanctions and the exclusion of ships from the Waste Shipment Regulation. Finally, under the terms of the compromise agreement, within three years of the Regulation entering into force, the Commission is required to formulate a feasibility proposal on an incentive mechanism.

Patrick Verhoeven, ECSA secretary general, said: “ECSA is confident that this agreement between the EU Institutions is not undermining the 2009 Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, (better known as ‘Hong Kong Convention’ or ‘HKC’) and urges Member States to ratify the HKC soonest, allowing a quick application globally.”

The legislative text is expected to be formally adopted by the Council in the near future.

The European Parliament has adopted a new Ship Recycling Regulation by a large majority at a plenary sitting in Brussels.

The regulation is based on a compromise agreement reached in June in between the Council under the Irish Presidency, the Parliament and the Commission. The compromise covers agreement on the requirements for recycling facilities and certification of facilities located in other countries, as well as on so-called ‘built structures’ for recycling. The ECSA (European Community Shipowners Association) has welcomed the new Regulation.

According to ECSA, the agreement includes a timeframe for the inventory of hazardous material, its application date and a transitional period, together with a package on sanctions and the exclusion of ships from the Waste Shipment Regulation. Finally, under the terms of the compromise agreement, within three years of the Regulation entering into force, the Commission is required to formulate a feasibility proposal on an incentive mechanism.

Patrick Verhoeven, ECSA secretary general, said: “ECSA is confident that this agreement between the EU Institutions is not undermining the 2009 Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, (better known as ‘Hong Kong Convention’ or ‘HKC’) and urges Member States to ratify the HKC soonest, allowing a quick application globally.”

The legislative text is expected to be formally adopted by the Council in the near future.

Source: motorship. 24 October 2013

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