India: Maersk Line, the world's largest
container shipping company, will send more end-of-life vessels to India's
shipbreaking yards at Alang for recycling. 'Our objective is to recycle our
vessels in the most responsible way and at the same time at a competitive
price,' Maersk Group's head of sustainability Annette Stube has told the Indian
media.
The company, which operates a fleet of more
than 600 large container vessels, has been recycling its ships in China and
Turkey but has decided to look at India as an alternative destination, partly
for financial reasons. It has already sent two vessels - Maersk Wyoming and
Maersk Georgia - to the Shree Ram Vessel Scrap yard at Alang for dismantling
following an 'extensive audit' of its facilities.
Maersk expects 'many more' ships to be
dispatched to Alang over the next five years as the company will need to
recycle 'more vessels than before'. 'We are coming to India as it gives us an
opportunity to push development in the local ship recycling industry,' stressed
Stube. 'We have seen development in India where four yards have started
operating at far superior levels.'
The company is working with local
shipbreakers as well as the Gujarat Maritime Board to drive improvements at
Asia's largest shipbreaking hub. Maersk is helping local shipbreakers to
achieve 'high standards' in line with the International Maritime Organization
and Hong Kong Convention which set occupational health and safety standards for
workers.
Source:
recycling
international. 19 October 2016
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