In a joint statement published during the process in which the European Commission updated its technical guidelines for ship recycling facilities in third countries, the organizations called for a ban on beaching and landing methods in ship dismantling and demanded equal competitive conditions for all facilities.
The organizations recalled that the technical guidelines used under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation play a critical role in determining whether facilities in third countries are authorized to dismantle EU flagged vessels, arguing that current practices contain double standards.
“Call for equal standards”
The statement emphasized that facilities operating in third countries should be subject to permit and environmental approval processes equivalent to EU requirements. It was stated that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures and operating permits should be considered key criteria within this framework.
The NGOs argued that current regulations in some countries do not include sufficient inspection mechanisms, leading to different practices in terms of occupational safety and environmental management.
“Assessments regarding Türkiye”
The joint statement also addressed ship recycling activities in Türkiye, claiming that different practices exist regarding environmental permit processes and inspection mechanisms at facilities in Aliağa.
The organizations argued that some facilities in Türkiye should be removed from the EU’s “European List” until the necessary improvements are implemented, stating that these facilities do not meet environmental and occupational safety standards.
Recommendations for technical guidelines
The organizations highlighted the following recommendations to the European Commission:
- Ban on beaching and landing methods in ship dismantling
- Mandatory implementation of permit and environmental obligations equivalent to EU standards for facilities in third countries
- Establishment of a suspension or delisting mechanism for non compliant facilities
- Integration of obligations arising from international conventions into the guidelines
- Evaluation of subcontracting and steel processing facilities within the scope of environmental standards
Views of organization representatives
NGO Shipbreaking Platform Executive Director Ingvild Jenssen stated that differing regulations between the EU and third countries create double standards and emphasized that all facilities should be assessed based on EU environmental and safety standards.
Recycling Europe Policy Advisor Isabelle Radovan said the guideline update represents an important opportunity to raise standards in the global ship recycling sector.
EUROFER representative Aurelio Braconi also emphasized that downstream steel processing facilities should be evaluated within the scope of environmental equivalency and underlined the importance of maintaining consistency in EU environmental policy.
“Emphasis on global standards”
The organizations emphasized that the EU should continue its efforts to raise global standards in ship recycling and called for safe and environmentally responsible dismantling practices to become mandatory for all facilities.
The statement warned that allowing methods prohibited in the EU to be accepted in third countries would weaken the sector’s goal of achieving a safe and sustainable transformation.
Comments
No comment yet.