Dimas promises EU ship scrapping strategy

2085, 26/04/06

Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has promised to draw up an EU strategy for environmentally and socially responsible scrapping of end-of-life ships.  This could include requirements for a minimum level of ship recycling capacity in Europe, he told a European parliament hearing on Tuesday.

Mr Dimas said the political atmosphere was favourable for joint EU action after recent moves by the UK, France and Germany to regulate end-of-life ships.  The strategy would be drawn up ahead of international legislation being developed for global ship recycling standards, he added (EED 31/03/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/20713).

The UK's recent national ship scrapping strategy, which promises to guarantee proper disposal of ships even after they have been sold to third parties, could form the basis of EU-wide measures, he said (EED 31/03/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/20712).

Earlier this year France witnessed political turmoil over the fate of the aircraft carrier Clemenceau.  The ship was destined for scrapping in India but was ordered to return by French president Jacques Chirac for disposal closer to home (EED 15/02/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/20394).

"I see a possible role for member states to ensure that warships, ferries and other ships that regularly operate in European waters can be dismantled safely at the end of their lives in domestic facilities within the EU," Mr Dimas said.  This could be done by subsidising the development of recycling capacity, he suggested.

Ship makers and operators must be more active, the commissioner warned:  "the shipping industry should start considering credible and realistic initiatives on a voluntary basis or otherwise the commission will have to think of mandatory means to serve this purpose."  This might involve a revival of producer responsibility along the lines of existing waste car and electronics legislation, he said.

But Chris Horrocks of the International chamber of shipping said efforts to build up EU ship-breaking capacity were misguided.  "I admire Mr Dimas's commitment, but I can't see it happening in a European context," he said.  The economics of ship recycling strongly favoured ship-breaking in Asia, and attention should instead concentrate on raising standards at facilities there, he argued.

Belgian liberal MEP Dirk Sterckx voiced similar doubts over Mr Dimas's plan.  "Are we going to subsidise something that will deprive [Asian shipbreakers] of a living?" he said, while acknowledging that their treatment standards were far too low.

Follow-up: European Commission http://europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm, tel: +32 2 299 1111, plus Dimas speech

http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/259.

 Hearing organised by the parliament's Liberal group http://alde.europarl.eu.int/Content/Default.asp.

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