
The European Commission (EC) has updated its list of approved ship recycling facilities in line with new rules that come into force in 2019 under the EU (European Union) Ship Recycling Regulation. For the first time the list includes three yards located outside the EU.
The fourth version of the list contains a total of 26 shipyards, including 23 facilities in the European Union, two facilities in Turkey and one facility in the United States. Up until now only EU yards have been included on the list.
Under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, by Dec. 31, all ships flying a European flag have to be recycled in a facility that is included on the so-called European List of approved ship recycling facilities. All yards included on the list have been determined to fulfill strict environmental and safety requirements set out in the EU regulation, thereby granting the yards exclusive access to the recycling of end-of-life ships flying the flags of EU members.
According to the EC, the regulation also is in line with the international standards set forth in the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which was adopted in 2009 but is yet to enter into force globally.
The three facilities outside of the EU on the latest version of the list includes International Shipbreaking Limited in Brownsville, Texas, in the United States, and two yards in Turkey operated by LEYAL, a ship recycling group based there.
One of the main arguments against the EU regulation is that the European List does not have enough capacity to keep pace with recycling demand. Many groups have therefore urged that the list should be opened up to countries outside the EU, including yards in Southeast Asia where ships are typically run aground and dismantled on the beach.
“The EU is committed to reducing the impact of [the] EU shipping industry on the environment, including through better protection of environment and workers in ship recycling,” says Karmenu Vella, EU commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries. “The inclusion of the first yards located outside the EU is a major milestone and the recognition of very significant efforts and resources dedicated by the concerned yards towards this goal. The updated list will increase the recycling capacity of the European List, and give European ship owners a wider range of recycling options.”
“The European Commission has received a number of applications from yards located in third countries,” the European Commission says on its website. “The applications are being thoroughly reviewed and site inspections conducted to check their credentials. The Commission then decides on their inclusion in the list.”
The list of certified recycling facilities includes:
Belgium
NV Galloo Recycling, Ghent
Denmark
Fornæs ApS, Grenå
Modern American Recycling Services Europe (M.A.R.S), Sandholm
Smedegaarden A/S, Esbjerg
Estonia
OÜ BLRT Refonda Baltic, Pärnu
Spain
DDR Vessels XXI, S.L., Gijon
France
Démonaval Recycling, Le Trait
Gardet & De Bezenac Recycling /Groupe Baudelet Environnement, Le Havre
Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Cedex
Les Recycleurs Bretons, Guipavas
Italy
San Giorgio del Porto S.p.A., Genova
Latvia
A/S ‘Tosmares kugubuvetava’, Liepaja
Lithuania
UAB APK, Klaipeda
UAB Armar, Klaipeda
UAB Vakaru refonda, Klaipeda
The Netherlands
Keppel-Verolme, Rotterdam-Botlek
Scheepssloperij Nederland B.V., Gravewndeel
Portugal
Navalria - Docas, Construções e Reparações Navais, Aveiro
Finland
Turun Korjaustelakka Oy (Turku Repair Yard Ltd.), Naantali
United Kingdom
Able UK Ltd., Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre, Hartlepool
Dales Marine Services Ltd., Edinburgh
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd., Belfast
Swansea Drydock Ltd, Prince of Wales Dry Dock, Swansea
Turkey
Leyal Gemi Sokum Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd., Izmir
Leyal-Demtas Gemi Sokum Sanayi Ticaret A.S., Izmir
United States
International Shipbreaking Ltd. LLC, Brownsville, Texas
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