From Dirty and Dangerous Shipbreaking to Safe and Clean Ship Recycling

Introduction

The vast majority of EU-controlled vessels continue to be scrapped on tidal beaches in South Asia, causing irreparable damage to workers' health, local communities, and the environment. In its annual proposal, the Platform will seek to reverse the damage caused by European economic activities that currently rely on dirty and dangerous shipbreaking.

Objectives of the Platform

The objectives of the Platform include:

• Supporting the development, implementation, and enforcement of EU environmental law and policy on ship recycling.
• Strengthening the participation of civil society in the EU policy dialogue, especially in light of the ongoing review of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation.

EU's Responsibility

More than 40% of the world’s commercial fleet is controlled by companies domiciled in the EU; hence, the EU has a particular responsibility to ensure the safe and clean management of ships at end-of-life. The European Green Deal calls for a transition to a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient economy.

Contribution to Environmental Goals

The annual proposal of the Platform aims to contribute to reaching these objectives, in line with the EU’s 2050 vision on environmental policies and the Commission’s proposed 8th Environment Action Plan. An effective European policy on ship recycling, which internalizes the costs of sustainable ship recycling with the polluters (i.e., the shipping industry), will stimulate the growth of green, zero-pollution recycling industries within the EU and globally.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

An increase in responsible ship recycling in EU-approved yards will create green jobs. Furthermore, the recycling of ships to recover prime grade secondary steel will reduce the dependency on iron ore and thus can contribute to the EU’s climate neutrality objective by decarbonizing the steel sector.