WSC response to the EU to the European Commission's Public Consultation on "Ship recycling – European list of ship recycling facilities (13th edition)”
World Shipping Council member companies represent over 90% of global liner shipping industry container and vehicle carrier capacity. We are committed to working with the EU Institutions to advancing sustainable and responsible shipping practices worldwide and support EU leadership at the IMO for more ambitious actions and higher standards when it comes to ship recycling.
We welcome the publication of the 13th European list of ship recycling facilities. However, we believe the current list does not sufficiently address the needs of the global liner fleet. The number and capacity of EU-approved recycling facilities are inadequate to meet the recycling requirements of the global fleet. Therefore, we urge the EU to continue evaluating ship recycling facilities located outside the EU, monitor their compliance progress, and consider including them in the EU list as soon as they meet EU standards. Expanding the number and geographic diversity of approved facilities will significantly help in maintaining ship recycling costs within a cost-effective range.
Furthermore, the EU should implement uniform auditing standards for recycling facilities within and outside Europe. Establishing these standards will facilitate the comparison of progress between EU and non-EU facilities, fostering the development of a global standard for ship recycling auditing. This comparison is crucial for promoting transparency and uniformity in how recycling practices are evaluated worldwide. The automatic inclusion of EU facilities on the approved list without rigorous and transparent standardised auditing processes should be scrutinised. Like their global counterparts, EU facilities must undergo thorough evaluations to ensure compliance with the highest safety and environmental standards. By adopting a global rather than a protectionist approach, the EU can demonstrate leadership in sustainable ship recycling, encouraging all facilities, regardless of location, to meet stringent safety and sustainability standards.
Access to recycling that is safe and environmentally sound is an important factor in fleet modernization and energy transition. In this way, the SRR can support the transition of international shipping towards becoming more climate friendly by using newer, more energy efficient ships, using advanced fuels that reduce GHGs to meet decarbonisation targets. Furthermore, a transparent and uniformly audit process applied to EU listed ship recycling facilities can help to inform review of the Hong Kong Convention. This would help the EU promote better alignment with best practices in international ship recycling standards.
Submitted online: Feedback from: World Shipping Council (europa.eu)
Download the full regulatory filing here.