EU Expands Ship Recycling List With First German Yard Amid Several Removals
In a notable development for sustainable maritime policy, the European Commission has published the 15th edition of the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities, a key regulatory tool under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation that governs where large vessels flying EU flags can be dismantled. The updated list includes, for the first time, a certified ship recycling yard in Germany, while also removing several others that failed to meet strict regulatory criteria.
The latest update, adopted on 27 February 2026, marks a significant shift in European efforts to build responsible, environmentally sound shipbreaking capacity within and outside the EU. The list now comprises 41 approved ship recycling facilities — 30 in Europe (including EU Member States, Norway and the UK), 10 in Türkiye and one in the United States. Several of these facilities are capable of processing large seagoing vessels that fall under the scope of EU recycling rules.
The standout feature of the new list is the inclusion of the first German ship recycling yard, located in Emden on the North Sea coast. This milestone reflects years of work to develop domestic capabilities in a region historically reliant on ship dismantling services abroad. Inclusion on the European List authorises the Emden facility to handle end-of-life vessels flying the flags of EU Member States — a major potential boost for circular economy goals in the continent’s maritime sector.
This news follows broader moves in Germany to develop self-sufficient recycling solutions for large ships, a sector traditionally dominated by yards in South Asia and other regions. Such domestic capacity helps reduce environmental and labour concerns associated with less regulated dismantling practices.
In addition to Germany’s entry, the updated list renews approvals for several existing facilities in Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and Spain. A Turkish facility also maintained its position on the list following review.
However, three shipyards were removed in this edition:
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A Finnish yard that did not renew its authorisation in time.
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A facility in Northern Ireland that failed to supply mandatory documentation required for reassessment.
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A shipyard in Türkiye, which was found to be non-compliant with key regulatory standards, particularly regarding shoreline protection — an essential measure to prevent environmental contamination.
These changes underscore the Commission’s ongoing enforcement of stringent environmental, safety and labour standards for all listed ship recycling facilities. Under EU rules, a facility may be removed if it no longer meets the necessary criteria, which include waste containment systems, worker protections and proper environmental safeguards.
The European List is central to the implementation of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, which has been in force since 31 December 2018. This regulation requires that all large seagoing vessels flying a Member State’s flag must be dismantled only at approved facilities included on the list. It was designed not only to protect human health and workers’ rights but also to encourage safer, more sustainable management of hazardous materials during shipbreaking.
Prior to the inclusion of Germany’s yard, Europe — despite owning roughly 30 % of the global merchant fleet by tonnage — lacked a certified facility in one of its major maritime economies. Many EU-flagged vessels ended their lives in South Asian shipbreaking sectors, especially in countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, where criticisms over environmental harm and unsafe working conditions have persisted for years.
By expanding the list with compliant facilities, the EU not only strengthens its capacity for high-standards ship recycling within Europe but also supports the broader circular economy by facilitating the recovery of high-quality steel and other valuable materials. With more yards meeting the necessary criteria, European shipowners are expected to have more viable options for end-of-life management consistent with both regional policy and international expectations.
The annual revision of the European List remains a key barometer of progress in responsible ship recycling. As international frameworks like the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships continue to influence global standards, the EU’s approach — blending regulation with enforced compliance — may serve as a model for balancing economic, environmental and social priorities in decommissioning one of the world’s most durable classes of industrial equipment.
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