EU Parliament committee opposes listing 2 Indian shipyards
The Environment Committee voted 48–26, with 5 abstentions, to object to the proposed approvals, according to Recycling Europe. EU member states retain the final say.
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The Environment Committee voted 48–26, with 5 abstentions, to object to the proposed approvals, according to Recycling Europe. EU member states retain the final say.
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted on 4 November to oppose adding Shree Ram Vessel Scrap and YSI Recyclers to the EU’s list of approved ship recycling facilities. The vote was 48–26, with 5 abstentions, European recycling association Recycling Europe said.
The European Commission had previously backed the two yards in Alang-Sosiya, Gujarat, after inspections intended to assess whether they met EU ship recycling rules. Approval would make them the first Indian facilities on the list.
Since 31 December 2018, large EU-flagged commercial ships have had to use listed facilities for recycling. Inclusion would allow the two yards to serve those vessels. Listed facilities must meet worker-safety and environmental requirements, and yards outside the EU must apply to the Commission.
The dispute centers on beaching, in which ships are driven onto tidal shorelines for dismantling. Lawmakers opposed to approval say cutting ships in the area between high and low tides makes oil, heavy metals and other hazardous materials difficult to contain, even at yards with improved controls. The objection also raises concerns about scrap steel sent to local re-rolling mills that have not been assessed against European industrial emissions standards.
A coalition of European steelmakers, recyclers, unions and environmental groups, including EUROFER, IndustriAll Europe, the European Environmental Bureau, Recycling Europe, Transport & Environment and the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, urged the Commission in September to withdraw the proposal, gCaptain said. Recycling Europe argues that approval without conclusive evidence of compliance would put European recyclers at a competitive disadvantage. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform welcomed the committee vote, arguing that approving the facilities would undermine the environmental protections established under EU law.
Xinhua says the law requires wildlife protection, proper waste handling and disposal, prevention of marine pollution and reduced environmental harm. Research, tourism and shipping permissions will face environmental, safety and other conditions.
Shipping associations including BIMCO, European Shipowners | ECSA, the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the World Shipping Council welcomed the proposal in September and support approval based on each yard’s compliance rather than its location or recycling method. They say the yards have invested in infrastructure, worker safety and environmental management, and warn that suitable listed capacity will be insufficient as more ships reach the end of their working lives. The associations also argue that rejecting yards found compliant through the Commission’s inspection process would undermine the credibility of the EU approval system.
Environmental campaigners dispute the capacity warning. They say approved facilities can handle more than 2 million light displacement tonnes a year—a measure of ships’ weight without cargo—and that this is enough for recent recycling volumes of EU-flagged and EU-owned ships.
Green lawmaker Sara Matthieu introduced the objection, supported by representatives from other political groups, which is expected to go before the full Parliament later in November. Even if Parliament adopts it, the Commission would not be legally required to withdraw its proposal; EU member states have the final say.
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