Press Release: Commission presents EU strategy for safer ship dismantling

The European Commission presented an EU strategy to make the dismantling of old ships safer for workers and the environment. Every year between 200 and 600 large merchant ships are taken apart for their valuable scrap metal. Many ships taken out of service in Europe end up being dismantled on beaches in South Asia. A lack of environmental protection and safety measures results in high accident rates, health risks and extensive pollution of wide stretches of the coast. The proposed strategy on better ship dismantling included actions to help implement key elements of an international Convention on safe ship recycling, due to be concluded in May 2009. It also proposed measures to encourage voluntary action by the shipping industry and better enforcement of current EU waste shipment law.