Brussels, 20 October 2016 - Today, the
European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an own initiative opinion
that calls on the European Commission to introduce an incentive that will
“eliminate the abuses of irresponsible ship dismantling through a system which
creates added value in an end-of-life ship”. SEA Europe, IndustriAll Europe and
the NGO Shipbreaking Platform join the EESC in supporting an incentive that
will make sure ships are recycled in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
“European ship recycling companies are
competitive with regards to sustainability and should be encouraged by an
enabling public policy that will push ship owners towards the use of these
facilities as well as enhance R&D towards more cost effective solutions in
Europe,” says Christophe Tytgat, Secretary General of SEA Europe.
The aim of a financial incentive is to make
sure that ship owners use the upcoming EU list of approved ship recycling
facilities and do not simply circumvent the EU Ship Recycling Regulation by
flagging out to a non-EU ship registry. The EESC opinion supports a financial
incentive that recognises the responsibility of the ship owner through the
‘polluter pays principle’ and builds the cost of responsible recycling into
ship operating costs.
“The social and environmental impacts of
shipbreaking on the beaches of South Asia can no longer be viewed as an
externality and should be accounted for in shipping companies’ individual
accounts. Introducing a financial incentive at the EU level is feasible and in
line with established legal principles. It also brings with it the promise of
ensuring compliance with environmental and social standards aimed at improving
ship recycling conditions globally”, says Ingvild Jenssen, Policy Director and Founder
of the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
Ensuring sustainable ship recycling fits well
with the EU’s aim of achieving a truly circular economy where valuable
resources are not only reused, but also recycled in a safe and environmentally
sound manner. The EU list of ship recycling facilities will function as an
important market differentiator for yards that have already invested in proper
occupational health, safety and environmental standards.
“Shipbreaking on the beaches of South Asia is
considered by the ILO as one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. Incentivising
sustainable practices is necessary for the creation of decent jobs in the ship
recycling sector,” says Luis Colunga, Deputy General Secretary of IndustriALL
Europe.
SEA Europe, the European Ships and Maritime
Equipment Association is the voice of the European maritime technology
industry. SEA Europe promotes and supports European business enterprises which
are involved in the building, construction, maintenance and repair of all types
of ships and other relevant maritime structures, including the complete supply
chain of systems, equipment and services. www.seaeurope.eu
IndustriAll European Trade Union represents
6.9 million working men and women across supply chains in manufacturing, mining
and energy sectors across Europe. IndustriAll Europe aims to protect and
advance the rights of these workers. www.industriall-europe.eu
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform is a global
coalition of 19 environmental, human rights and labour rights organisations working
to prevent the dangerous pollution and unsafe working conditions caused when
end-of-life ships containing toxic materials in their structure are freely
traded in the global marketplace. www.shipbreakingplatform.org
CONTACT
Ingvild Jenssen
Policy Director & Founder
NGO Shipbreaking Platform
+32 2 6094 420
Source: NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
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