Stronger Enforcement of EU Ship Recycling Regulation Needed
The European Commission’s recent evaluation of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) has once again underscored the urgent need for stricter enforcement to prevent hazardous working conditions and environmental damage in global shipbreaking yards.
On 19 February, the European Commission published its evaluation of the EU SRR, which governs the recycling of EU-flagged ships. While the regulation establishes higher standards than international norms, significant loopholes still allow shipowners to circumvent their responsibilities. This results in unsafe working conditions and hinders the transition to sustainable ship recycling. IndustriAll Europe is calling for decisive action to close these gaps and ensure that all workers in the sector are protected by robust safety and environmental standards.
The Role of Ship Recycling in the Circular Economy
Ship recycling plays a crucial role in the circular economy by enabling the recovery and reuse of valuable resources. Ships are composed of 75 to 85 per cent high-quality steel, which can be recycled and repurposed. However, vessels also contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, heavy metals, oil, and mercury. Without strict regulatory enforcement, these substances pose serious risks to both human health and the environment, particularly in shipbreaking yards that lack proper safety measures.
At the international level, the International Maritime Organization’s Hong Kong Convention (HKC) is set to enter into force on 26 June 2025. While the EU SRR is recognized as a more stringent framework, it applies only to EU-flagged ships, leaving many European-owned vessels outside its scope.
Loopholes in the EU SRR
The Commission’s report acknowledges key achievements of the EU SRR, including the establishment of an EU-approved list of ship recycling facilities that meet high environmental and occupational safety standards. This list includes yards in the EU, Turkey, the UK, and the USA. However, the report also identifies critical loopholes that undermine the regulation’s effectiveness.
One of the most pressing issues is the widespread practice of shipowners re-flagging vessels to non-EU registries shortly before dismantling. This tactic allows them to bypass EU safety and environmental regulations, exposing workers to unsafe conditions and contributing to environmental degradation. Additionally, the evaluation highlights that inventories of hazardous materials (IHMs) are often missing or of poor quality, making it difficult to ensure safe recycling practices.
Shipowners argue that re-flagging is necessary due to insufficient capacity in EU-approved yards. They advocate for expanding the list to include shipyards in non-OECD states, such as India, that claim compliance with international standards. However, critics argue that this approach risks weakening existing regulations and endangering workers.
Calls for Stronger Enforcement
IndustriAll Europe has long pushed for stronger enforcement mechanisms to prevent shipowners from exploiting regulatory gaps at the expense of workers and the environment.
“Shipbreaking remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, and the European Union must take urgent action to close regulatory gaps that allow shipowners to circumvent their responsibilities,” said Isabelle Barthès, IndustriAll Europe’s deputy general secretary. “Workers must be protected.”
In its latest revision of the European List of ship recycling facilities, the European Commission removed three yards located in Latvia, Lithuania, and Turkey. IndustriAll Europe views this as a failure, arguing that rather than simply removing non-compliant sites, efforts should focus on improving occupational health and safety standards to help these yards regain compliance.
“The EU SRR is the flagship standard that the ship recycling industry globally should aspire to,” said IndustriALL Global Union sector director Walton Pantland. “However, there are currently too many gaps in its coverage for it to be truly transformative, especially since almost 90 per cent of ships are broken in non-EU yards.”
Strengthening Global Standards
IndustriAll Europe supports the full ratification and implementation of the HKC but stresses that its standards must be reinforced and strictly enforced to match or exceed EU requirements. A key aspect of this enforcement is ensuring that all workers have the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. True social dialogue at all levels is essential to improving working conditions and ensuring safe and sustainable ship recycling.
The European Commission’s evaluation of the EU SRR has highlighted significant gaps in enforcement that continue to allow unsafe and environmentally harmful practices in global ship recycling. Stronger enforcement mechanisms are necessary to prevent shipowners from exploiting loopholes and to protect workers in one of the world’s most dangerous industries. Without decisive action, the EU risks undermining its own efforts to lead the way in sustainable and ethical ship recycling practices.
