First Turkish shipyard approved for EU recycling list

The final list of shipyards approved to handle the recycling of European flagships from December 31, 2018 has been published. Applications from other facilities are being processed but the European Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR) kicks off with, as expected, 26 facilities, including three from outside the European Union. Those non-EU shipbreakers include two belonging to Leyal of Turkey, as well as International Shipbreaking of Brownsville, Texas.

The initial list does not include any yards in the Indian subcontinent, where the vast majority of ships globally are recycled. Some 11 Indian recyclers have applied to be included on the EU list, with two - Shree Ram Vessel Scrap and Priya Blue Industries, both of which are said to have undergone extensive improvement - reported to be at an advanced stage.

Dimitri Ayvatoglu, head of special projects and external affairs at Leyal, said the breaker was very proud of being among the first facilities outside the EU - and the first and only so far from Turkey - to be on the list. Leyal said in a statement that the SRR is “currently regarded as the highest worldwide standard for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships and offshore units, which also includes in its scope the proper, final disposal of hazardous materials.”

“The EU is committed to reducing the impact of the EU ship- ping industry on the environment, including through better protection of the environment and workers in ship recycling,” Karmenu Vella, EU commissioner for the environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, said. “The inclusion of the first yards outside the EU is a major milestone and recognition of very significant efforts and resources dedicated by the concerned yards towards this goal. The updated list will increase the recycling capacity of the European list and give European ship owners a wider range of recycling options.”

Other facilities in Aliaga are also being prepared

Ersin Ceviker, one of the managers of Aliaga Ship Recycling Industrialists Association, pointed out that Turkish facilities have been working to become compatible with EU regulations for a while. “8 of 22 companies in Aliaga have completed their application to the EU and four of them have already been audited,” Ceviker said. “Leyal, because of its successes, was the first company to be included on this list. The more companies that make the list, the more share we will get from the EU’s annual 2 million tonne ship recycling capacity.”

The EU Ship Recycling Regulation, which was published in 2013 by the European Commission, announced that EU-flagged vessels would be sent to listed countries that meet the requirements of the regulations. The process begins at the end of December.