BRUSSELS, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday presented a strategy to make the dismantling of old ships safer for workers and the environment.
The proposed European Union (EU) strategy includes actions to help implement key elements of an international convention on safe ship recycling, due to be concluded in May 2009. It also proposes measures to encourage voluntary action by the shipping industry and better enforcement of current EU waste shipment law.
The strategy proposes starting preparations for the implementation of the international convention's key elements, encouraging voluntary industry action through measures such as awards for exemplary green recycling, technical assistance and support to developing countries for safety training programs and basic infrastructure for environmental and health protection, and better enforcement of current waste shipment rules.
The strategy also proposes that the commission look at the feasibility of developing a certification and audit scheme for ship recycling facilities worldwide and evaluating how EU ships can be encouraged to use such a scheme; making warships and other government vessels not covered by the convention subject to EU rules for clean dismantling; and establishing a mandatory international funding system for clean ship dismantling.
Every year between 200 and 600 large merchant ships of the EU are taken apart for their valuable scrap metal. Many ships taken out of service in the EU end up being dismantled on beaches in South Asia, mainly in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. A lack of environmental protection and safety measures results in high accident rates, health risks and extensive pollution of wide stretches of the coast.
Older ships contain many hazardous materials, including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and large quantities of oil.
The problem of ship dismantling is expected to get worse. The dismantling of single-hull oil tankers is predicted to peak in the next few years as they are phased out in favor of safer double-hulled vessels. Around 800 such tankers are expected to be taken out of service.
"The best way to resolve the ship dismantling crisis is to work together at EU and international level... The strategy presented today should ensure that ships with strong links to the EU are only ever dismantled in safe and environmentally sound facilities," said EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas.
The International Maritime Organization is preparing an international convention on safe ship recycling, which will be globally binding. The convention aims to provide a comprehensive system of control and enforcement "from cradle to grave" and relies in particular on the survey and certification of ships and the authorization of ship recycling facilities. Although final negotiations are due to be completed in May 2009, the convention is not expected to enter into force before 2015.
