Global ship recycling law edges closer

2071, 31/03/06

The first draft of a potential global ship recycling law topped the agenda last week at the latest biennial meeting of the international maritime organisation's environment protection committee (MEPC). The committee reported "good progress" in developing the text and re-affirmed a commitment to see the legislation adopted by 2009 (ED 27/07/05 http://www.environmentdaily.com/articles/index.cfm?action=article&ref=19235). A second draft is due in October.

Green campaigners criticised the draft as "woefully insufficient", saying it would do nothing to stop toxic ship dumping, does not

establish clear responsibility for implementation and unfairly exempts military vessels.  They also fear the law will not be ready

in time to regulate the disposal of single-hull oil tankers, due to be phased out entirely by 2010 (ED 05/04/05 http://www.environmentdaily.com/18525).

Last week's meeting of the MEPC also introduced new measures under the Marpol marine pollution convention that will reduce the risk of oil and sewage pollution and approved further measures to reduce the impact of harmful organisms in ballast water.

Follow-up: IMO http://www.imo.org/, tel: +44 20 7735 7611, plus press release http://www.imo.org/Newsroom/mainframe.asp?topic_id=1320&doc_id=6250 and draft ship recycling law http://www.environmentdaily.com/docs/60331a.doc.  See also NGO http://www.ban.org/ban_news/2006/060316_imo_treaty.html press release.

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