The official documents for the application were presented yesterday in Brussels to Mr. Julio Burgués, Head of the Unit Waste management & Recycling of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Environment by Mr Li Hongwei owner of Zhoushan Changhong International Ship Recycling Co., Ltd and Jiang Xiagang Changjiang Shiprecycling Yard. With a capacity of respectively 100 vessels (1.1 million Light Displacement Ton) and 120 vessels (1,2 million LDT) these two yards are the largest ship recycling facilities in the world.
Mr. Li stated that his goal is to serve all ship owners around the globe with the highest possible standards and that sufficient green recycling capacity ‘no longer is subject to discussion but a reality’. In addition Li stated; “We welcome the initiative of the European Union and invite them to audit and inspect our yards at any given time. We are pleased to improve and invest further to achieve the highest level required”.
The ceremony at the Berlaymont office of the European Commission in Brussels was attended by Tom Peter Blankestijn of company Sea2Cradle who have assisted a significant number of leading ship owners to recycle their vessels at the facilities in China. Mr. Blankestijn stated “With the experience of executing close to a 100 projects these yards have developed into the best in the world offering the highest standards on Health Safety and Environment in the industry.”
The quality level of details of waste handling and waste disposal, now incorporated in the Ship Recycling Facility Plan (SRFP) , is the basis of today’s EU application. “We are very proud that these are the first yards, also from outside the OECD, to apply for EU approval”, says Blankestijn, emphasizing that working together with Lloyds Register was of great benefit to achieve this quality level of the yard procedures.
Although the internal process towards publication of the EU list is still ongoing representatives of the DG Environment of the European Commission, who had visited the yards in 2013, stated to be very pleased with the application of the Chinese yards to the EU list of Facilities.
The European Union itself was complimented by Secretary General Bernard Veldhoven of the International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA) for their legislative work. “Europe has shown us that when there is a political will, legislation can change the dynamics of an industry in a relatively short period.”
A second compliment from ISRA went to mr Li Hongwei for creating a huge ship recycling capacity in China and offering ship owners the green alternative for phasing out their ships. It is expected more members of the International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA), amongst them yards in Turkey, will follow the application process.