Europe: Despite scepticism surrounding
latest European shipbreaking legislation to prevent what has been described as
the 'reckless' and 'unacceptable' scrapping of vessels on the beaches of Asia,
it was backed by nearly all members of the EU’s environment committee.
According to Carl Schlyter, who steered the legislation through the European
Parliament, there were 58 votes in favour, five against and one abstention.
'I want to stress that this is not an
attack against India, Bangladesh or Pakistan - the countries that currently
practice beaching - but against the dangerous and highly-polluting practice of
beaching,' stresses Schlyter. Instead, he says, the new regulation
'incentivises' these countries to make the 'necessary investments in proper
ship recycling facilities'.
In discussing the draft, the European
Parliament strengthened the requirements imposed on ship recycling facilities
to clearly preclude the practice of beaching, Schlyter confirms. This means
that these facilities must, among other things: operate from built structures;
be designed, constructed and operated in a safe and environmentally sound
manner; and keep hazardous materials contained throughout the recycling
process, and handle them and their waste only on impermeable floors with
effective drainage.
The full scope
Furthermore, waste must be documented and
processed in authorised treatment or recycling facilities. It has been reported
that non-EU vessels are included in the scope of the regulation; they must also
carry an inventory of hazardous materials when calling at ports in the EU.
According to EU sources, the Parliament
will conclude its first reading in a plenary session this autumn. The
regulation is expected to enter into force early next year, and will apply to
ships at the earliest two years and at the latest five years after that point.
Source: recycling international. 12 July
2013
http://www.recyclinginternational.com/recycling-news/7224/research-and-legislation/europe/big-majority-new-eu-shipbreaking-regulation
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