A joint event between the
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and three Green Members of the
European Parliament highlighted the paradox between the strict rules under
OSPAR for the decommissioning of fixed oil platforms from the North Sea with
the rules that govern the recycling of floating platforms and structures. The
latter fall under the same rules as commercial ships, and would therefore have
to follow the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform and
other stakeholders have already highlighted the weakness of the SRR which needs
to be coupled with a financial incentive to curb the trend to flag out and
circumvent the legislation. A financial incentive would also be an opportunity
to steer the market towards proper recycling yards included under the EU list
of approved facilities.
There are a growing number
of unutilised and obsolete floating oil and gas structures which have been
operating in the North Sea. These structures are effectively floating
industrial plants, which need to be dismantled using the highest standards of
precaution, many containing asbestos and residues of naturally occurring radioactive
material (NORM). So far, assets from the North Sea have not ended up on the
South Asian beaches with the infamous exception of the FPSO tanker NORTH SEA
PRODUCER. Yet the NGO Shipbreaking Platform has observed more structures from
other oil fields being towed across the globe to be beached in South Asia for
dirty and dangerous scrapping. There is a real concern that we will see more
rigs and oil and gas assets ending up there, and cash buyers, such as GMS, and
marine service providers, such as Aqualis, have had no shame in their efforts
to attract the owners of these structures to sell them to the beaches.
On 22 June the EESC hosted a
conference attended by the members of the CCMI committee . It was clear from
the presentations by the port of Fredrikshaven and the Spanish recycler DDR
that there is a real business case for Europe and the regions with a recycling
capacity to be promoted through a financial incentive. There are even foreign
investments that are being made in Denmark to cater for the increased need to
decommission the structures from the oil and gas fields in the North Sea. Trade
unions also back the movement in support of a financial incentive which would
boost the decommissioning and recycling industry and protect highly qualified
jobs in a heavy industry. The widespread sentiment was that public support for
a responsible and proper recycling industry which is in compliance with the EU
SRR, provides for an opportunity to invest in green jobs, cleaner technology
and R&D, all in line with ambitions for a circular economy.
On 28 June the second part
of the event was hosted by MEPs Margrete AUKEN, Pascal DURAND and Bart STAES.
The European Parliament placed the focus on the EU Commission to broaden the
interest of ship and rig recycling to other policy areas, such as growth,
trade, energy, innovation and employment, to name a few. The only opponents to
the idea that a clean industry should be promoted in all these aspects were the
ship owners present. Most ship owners still do not see themselves as
participants in finding sustainable solutions to cleaning up the recycling of
their assets, which ultimately should be their responsibility. On the up side,
all other participants and speakers, including the EU Commission, acknowledged
the positive effects and the added value in ensuring that floating rigs and
ships are recycled in EU-listed facilities.
“If the EU takes the Juncker
plan seriously, it has to grab such a chance for Europe’s industry and provide
the necessary legal instruments. Only then can ‘beaching’ come to a halt”, said
MEP Margrete Auken.
Source:
hellenic
shipping news. 4 July 2017
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