Ro-ro giant Wallenius Wilhelmsen says the European Union’s list of approved recycling shipyards already includes some physically able to handle any of its vessels.
The Norwegian-Swedish owned company, whose fleet includes vessels up to 8,000 ceu, has what it describes as significant numbers of EU and non-EU flagged ships.
Green-recycling proponent Wallenius Wilhelmsen has demolished 30 vessels in the past 10 years. Yards in China handled 28 and two were scrapped in Turkey.
'Facilities must be collectively capable'
But approved EU facilities collectively must be capable of “meeting the ongoing recycling needs of the EU-flagged fleet”, says Roger Strevens, Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s vice president global sustainability.
Moreover, a critical mass of recycling capacity is necessary to ensure there is a healthy level of competition among members of the EU list
Roger Strevens
“Moreover, a critical mass of recycling capacity is necessary to ensure there is a healthy level of competition among members of the EU list,” he says.
Arguing that more yards should be included on the list, he says “progressive” recycling facilities have quickly recognised the growing trend among shipowners who believe “irresponsible recycling is simply not consistent with their own standards or their brand, as well as being bad for business”.
They understand, he says, that “the bad old ways belong in the bad old days”.
Pressure from investors and owners
Shipowners are also under increasing pressure from investors in shipping, as well as the cargo owners, who do not want to be associated with bad recycling practices.
Strevens says that in future, regardless of flag, Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessels will continue to be recycled only according to the operator’s “exacting requirements”.
That will include EU-flagged vessels at EU-approved yards and possibly non-EU flagged vessels at a breaker “not [yet] on the EU list”.
