The 47,500 gross
ton car carrier Global Spirit, detained on 5th of June 2014 at the port of
Antwerp, has been released by the Belgian environmental authorities. After
discussions, the vessel has been allowed to proceed on its voyage to an
approved ship recycling yard in Turkey. Here the vessel will be recycled.
The Belgian
authorities have stressed the importance of the rapid entry into force of the
Hong Kong Convention which is better adapted to the needs and concerns of the
shipping industry that the local relevant regulations and notes that the
European Ship Recycling Regulation will not provide a solution for ships flying
the flag of a third country when going for recycling.
Belgium will
thereto speed up its accession process to the Hong Kong Convention, which it
believe is the best guarantee and the only way forward for sustainable ship
recycling, within and outside the OECD. Within this framework, Belgium urges a
full investigation into how workers and the environment can be adequately
protected during the ship recycling process, regardless the technique used.
It is also the
responsibility of the European Commission and the Member States to support and
assist ship recycling facilities in third countries who are truly undertaking
meaningful efforts, says the Belgian authorities. That way not only can all
sustainable recycling facilities can distinguish themselves and be rewarded for
the efforts taken, but it also provides hope for those facilities that still
have a longer way to go.
According to the
European Union Waste Shipment Regulation, only if all hazardous materials, such
as asbestos, residue oils and toxic paints, are removed from the Global Spirit
could it be allowed to be exported to South Asia, says NGO Shipbreaking
Platform.
The NGO had alerted
the Belgian authorities of the vessel’s proposed movements after it had been
reported that the Global Spirit was sold to the shipbreaking beaches in India.
It says that at least six workers have died at Indian Shipbreaking yards so far
this year and many more have been taken ill by occupational disease due to
ship-borne hazardous substances like asbestos and PCBs.
Source: maritime-executive.
26 June 2014
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