Lack of sustainable ship scrapping facilities 

In December 1999 the single-hull tanker Erika sank off the coast of France, causing massive oil pollution. This was followed by another equally serious oil disaster – both involving single-hull tankers.

Such incidents have provided the impetus for new EU legislation in this area backed by the UN's International Maritime Organisation, IMO, on the global scene.

From 2016, single-hull tankers will no longer be allowed to ply the world's trading routes. In the future, all oil tankers sailing under European flags must be double-hulled. And those that are not must be scrapped. Almost 800 large tankers are to be broken up by 2010 and no fewer than 2000 by 2015.

Are there sufficient shipyards?

The pressing issue is: are there sufficient shipyards to carry out this task? According to a new report on ship breaking prepared for the EU by a team headed by COWI project manager Frank Stuer-Lauridsen, the goals set out can be achieved.

"Admittedly, it means breaking up many tankers in a relatively short period of time," says Frank Stuer-Lauridsen, "but the fact is that there are enough locations in the world to get the job done, if we are willing to accept the way ships are broken up in Asia – which I do not think we are."

Sustainable scrapping of tankers

Frank Stuer-Lauridsen is referring to countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and Turkey. Ship scrapping is a major industry in these countries, whose economies are dependent on the good quality steel to be had, and therefore they are willing to pay high prices to shipowners for ships due to be scrapped.

The problem is that the work is carried out directly on the beach under wretched working conditions and with no environmental safeguards.

"A few shipyards in Europe and China are geared towards sustainable ship scrapping, but there are simply not enough such shipyards to enable us to achieve the goals set," adds Frank Stuer-Lauridsen. Neither are there any economic incentives for shipowners to opt for "green" ship breaking. They can make much more money by selling ships for shipbreaking to countries in the East, where both manpower and life come cheaply.

Dangerous work

Continues Frank Stuer-Lauridsen: "It would also be unfortunate if all ship scrapping was to be relocated to Europe, because many poor people would lose their livelihood, which even though it is dangerous work at least puts food on the table and perhaps buys a schooling for their children."

Instead, the report suggests that financial support from the EU for green ship scrapping in Europe could ideally be combined with support initiatives aimed at significantly improving the conditions under which ship scrapping is carried out in developing countries. Because there is no doubt that many single-hull tanker fleets will be broken up in these countries in the coming years.

Published: 27.10.2004
By: Gitte Petersen