Brussels,
29 August 2018 - Norwegian press DN revealed this summer that Aqualis Offshore
and insurance company Skuld Maritime Agency are under investigation for their
involvement in the attempt to illegally export the Harrier to Pakistan for
scrapping. Aqualis Offshore issued two certificates for the ship – one for a
break-up voyage to Pakistan, another for a voyage to Oman – and it is suspected
that the latter was issued to dupe Norwegian authorities in order to circumvent
the European waste export ban. Skuld Maritime Agency was involved in issuing
the last-voyage insurance for the vessel and is therefore being investigated
for having aided the illegal export.
The
former and current owners of the ship, Georg Eide and cash buyer Wirana, are
also targeted in the ongoing investigations, and risk being held criminally
liable for their attempt to illegally export the Harrier.
“It
is encouraging to see authorities enforce the law on ships destined for
recycling. Following also the Seatrade judgement in the Netherlands, the
Harrier case is yet another warning to ship owners that selling a vessel for
the highest price to a cash buyer is dirty business”, says Ingvild Jenssen,
Director of NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
Another
owner, Herbjorn Hansson of Nordic American Tankers, is under the spotlight in
Norway for having sold eight vessels for beaching. Reactions to these
revelations have been strong with the Norwegian Oil Pension Fund as well as the
banks DNB and Nordea condemning beaching as a method for breaking ships.
The
Norwegian Environment Agency urges ship owners to use facilities that have been
approved by the EU for the recycling of their vessels, regardless of the flag
of their ship. Its director, Ellen Hambro, states that it is unacceptable to
endanger workers’ health and pollute the environment in developing countries
for the sake of higher profits.
“We
support the statements made by the Norwegian authorities and call also upon
other stakeholders in shipping, such as insures and financers, to play their
part in putting an end to the dirty and dangerous practice of beaching. Safer
and cleaner alternatives exist and ship owners must be pushed towards using
these facilities”, Ingvild Jenssen says.
Yesterday
the Harrier arrived in Aliaga, Turkey, where it will be recycled in line with
the European waste laws. Waste Management company Norsk Gjennvinning will be
supervising the process.
CONTACT
Ingvild
JENSSEN
NGO
Shipbreaking Platform
Executive
Director and Founder
Tel.:
+32 (0)2 6094 419
Source:
NGO Shipbreaking Platform
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