NGO Shipbreaking Platform has asked the European Commission to consider limiting approvals for recycling contracts at Turkish yards and to carry out safety checks.
The move follows an earlier reported fatality at Isiksan Ship Recycling in Aliaga Turkey. The Isiksan yard mainly recycles offshore units.
There has been a high volume of recycling contracts for cruiseships in the region that has filled yards and raised concerns safety could be compromised.
NGO Shipbreaking Platform said it has already the notified the commission of the fatality and requested that it investigate the incident.
“We have expressed concern that safety measures might have been ignored at Isiksan in order to speed up operations,” a spokesman for NGO Shipbreaking Platform said in a statement to TradeWinds.
The EC has said it will investigate the incident. Isiksan declined to comment on the accident for this article.
In addition, NGO Shipbreaking Platform said it had also asked the EC to “look into the possibility of limiting approvals in Aliaga to the recycling of conventions vessels”.
The group said it had identified challenges to safety and containment in the dismantling of offshore units in the region.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform is calling for improved facilities to meet the demand for recycling.
“With the current pressure on the shipping industry to scrap, we are increasing our efforts to push responsible actors towards the best facilities and the creation of sorely needed new yards fit for the heavy and hazardous industry ship recycling is,” the spokesman said.
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform's move comes as questions have been raised over whether Turkish yards can cope with its current heavy workload and comply with standards set by the EC Ship Recycling Regulation.
Some have pointed out that pictures of ships lined up demolition along the Aliaga coast already show that guidelines on the safe distance between vessels are not being kept.
There are also indications some cutting and dismantling operations maybe taking place in areas that could pollute the sea outside the designated land-based impermeable floor.
