IMO-guidelines not enough to tackle the issue of shipbreaking
Amsterdam, 14th march 2002 - Last week, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) started debating
the issue of shipbreaking in its Marine Environment Protection Committee
(MEPC). It was agreed that the IMO will draw guidelines on greening ships
during the life cycle of a ship. The guidelines on shiprecycling are planned
to be ready for approval at the organisation's next general assembly in
November 2003. The IMO-guidelines will include clean ship design and construction,
regular hazardous substance removal when ships undergo maintenance or refit
and the preparation of ships before scrapping. Procedures for the preparation
of ships before scrap will include:
* the minimisation of hazardous materials
on board the ship
* the presentation of an inventory of remaining hazardous
materials
* the delivery of a ship in a gas-free condition with tanks cleaned
and certified to full hot works and entry standards.
Greenpeace considers the framework for the guidelines promising but fears that IMO-guidelines
will not be enough to tackle the issue. Due to the global character of shipping
and the high number of companies and states involved, only a legally binding
instrument will close the loopholes and escape routes for ships to go to
the least regulated countries and to prevent distortion in the scrapping
market. Greenpeace therefore calls upon the shipping community to work towards
a legally binding instrument.
Remarkable ships Pacific Princess ('Love Boat') is on the Greenpeace list. More remarkable ships...
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