Peter Mandelson, Greenpeace and GMB call for state-of-the-art ship recycling in Britain

Peter Mandelson MP, Greenpeace and the GMB today (Tuesday 23rd March) called for a state of the art ship recycling industry to be developed in Britain and for the government to stop British naval ships being broken up on the beaches of Bangladesh and India.

The joint initiative known as 'START Ship Recycling' also called for government action at a European level to ensure that all EU ships are only decommissioned and recycled at specialist European shipyards.

Between now and 2015, the European Commission estimates that up to 250 ships need to be recycled every year (1). By 2007 new laws after the Erika oil spill mean at least 1300 single-hulled tankers will need to be phased out and scrapped.

These vessels are mainly made up of recyclable steel but they also contain a range of toxic materials including asbestos, PCBs, fuel oil and lead which need to be removed under well-regulated conditions to protect workers and the environment. This represents a major opportunity for developing a state of the art British ship recycling industry.

The alternative is unacceptable in human and environmental terms. British naval ships and commercial vessels have been broken on the beaches of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan under horrific conditions with few or no health and safety or environmental controls. Asbestos is often removed by hand with no protective equipment, and fire and explosions are commonplace

The Rt Hon Peter Mandelson MP, former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, said:

"The conditions for workers in these developing countries are appalling and I know that people will be as shocked I was to discover what is happening. British firms and workers have the experience and potential to recycle UK ships in conditions that protect employees, their communities and the environment alike. Government must now seize the chance to end the mistakes of the past and to encourage a world-class ship recycling industry that will create well-paid, highly skilled British jobs."

Greenpeace UK Executive Director Stephen Tindale said,

"It is a disgrace to the UK that British naval vessels are scrapped on the beaches of India by unprotected workers under appalling environmental conditions. Britain must take an international lead in recycling ships and support the development of purpose-designed and built, state of the art facilities in the UK."

GMB spokesperson Julie Elliot said,

"As a union that has seen many members die from asbestosis, we cannot accept that UK ships are being scrapped under these conditions. The UK Government and British ship owners have a moral obligation to ensure that government-owned vessels will only be decommissioned in state-of-the-art facilities."

In the 1970s, ship breaking was concentrated in Europe but the costs of upholding environmental and health and safety standards increased and the shipping industry moved to poorer Asian states. Ship owners sending their vessels to Asia for decommissioning can extract an average of US$ 1.9 million profit per vessel because the steel is taken for recycling and the dismantling and disposal costs are very small.

The UK Government currently owns 107 large vessels and these can be kept within the EU for recycling (2). Even where military vessels are sold to foreign navies it is possible for the Ministry of Defence to place conditions on the fate of such vessels and it could conceivably insist on recycling within the EU at state of the art facilities.

In 2000, two Royal Navy ships - the Olwen and the Olna - were decommissioned at the Indian ship-breaking yard at Alang where they were broken on an open beach under appalling conditions. Currently HMS Intrepid, a landing vessel which saw service during the Falklands, is berthed in Portsmouth naval base awaiting disposal.

The three principle elements of the START Ship Recycling initiative are:

1. UK Government to support the development of purpose-designed and built, state of the art ship recycling facilities in Britain.
2. An immediate public commitment that British Government owned vessels will be entirely recycled within the EU at state of the art facilities. This commitment could be made immediately and should include HMS Intrepid.
3. The Government should seek to persuade British ship owners to recycle their vessels at state of the art facilities within the EU and must urgently explore ways of compelling all EU ship owners to dispose of their ships at such facilities.

Sources:

1. European Commission 2001.'Technological and Economic Feasibility Study of Ship Scrapping in Europe.
2. The Government owns 107 large ships, the vast majority of which are naval. This consists of 3 aircraft carriers, 1 amphibious ship, 11 destroyers, 21 frigates, 22 mine counter measure vehicles, 23 patrol vessels, 1 ice patrol vessel, 3 hydrographic vessels and 22 auxiliaries.
3. There are approximately 1,700 ships over 100 tonnes registered under a UK flag. Of these 800 are over 500 Gross tonnes. In addition there are 1,300 single hulled tankers globally, many of which will require decommissioning in the near future. The European Commission predicts that up to 250 European ships will require scrapping every year. (Including accession countries).

For more information please contact:
Greenpeace UK Press Office on 020 7865 8255
Peter Mandelson MP's office on 020 7219 3000
Julie Elliot GMB on 07967459075

 

Venue arrangements:
A press conference outlining the START ship recycling in Britain initiative will be held in the Attlee Suite at Portcullis House, Westminster, SW1 (entrance on Victoria Embankment opposite Westminster Bridge) at 10.15am on Tuesday 23rd March 2004.

Attendees should be aware that they will need to pass through the House of Commons security search at the entrance to Portcullis House and should leave time accordingly.