Ship recycling : EU’s updated list out : Turkey’s 3 more yards included

The European Commission has made an important decision regarding ship recycling facilities. They have just adopted the 11th edition of the European List of these facilities. This updated list now includes three new yards located in Türkiye. Additionally, the Commission has extended the inclusion of two yards in Denmark and one yard in Italy.

The European List currently consists of 48 ship-recycling facilities. Out of these, 38 yards are situated in Europe (EU, Norway, and the UK), 9 yards are in Türkiye, and 1 yard is located in the USA. Some of these facilities are capable of recycling large vessels, which is crucial for handling bigger ships.

This decision is part of the implementation of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, aimed at ensuring safer and more environmentally friendly practices in the ship recycling industry. The Commission will now be closely monitoring the yards on the European List to ensure they comply with the conditions set out in the EU legislation. This may include unannounced inspections if necessary.

One of the main reasons for this regulation is to address the issue of European ship owners dismantling their ships outside the EU, especially in South Asia. Unfortunately, these practices often pose risks to the health of workers and the environment. Since December 31, 2018, the EU has required large sea-going vessels sailing under an EU Member State flag to use an approved ship recycling facility from the European List.

The European List is regularly updated to ensure that compliant facilities are included and those failing to meet the requirements are removed. For a facility to be included in the European List, regardless of its location, it must meet safety and environmental standards. Facilities located within the EU are checked by competent national authorities before being listed. On the other hand, ship recycling facilities in third countries intending to recycle ships flagged under an EU Member State must apply to the Commission for inclusion. The Commission then evaluates and checks their compliance with the Regulation’s requirements before proposing their inclusion in the European List.

Furthermore, the Commission is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. They conducted an Open Public Consultation in the first half of 2023, and targeted consultations with various stakeholders are ongoing to gather valuable feedback.

In summary, the European Commission’s latest action in updating the European List of ship recycling facilities demonstrates their commitment to promoting safer and more environmentally responsible ship recycling practices within the EU and beyond.