UK Ship Recycling Strategy

The need to develop a definitive policy for the dismantling of UK Government-owned vessels, and a strategy with regard to ship recycling in general, comes in the wake of several key developments:

• the import of four decommissioned US naval ships in 2003 and the recommendations resulting from the Ballard and Environment Agency Reviews;
  
• the EFRA report on 'Dismantling Defunct Ships in the UK;
  
• concern over the lack of a global regulatory framework to ensure end-of-life vessels are dismantled in accordance with acceptable environmental, health and safety standards.

The primary objectives of the Strategy were developed by consensus within the UK Government and are identified as follows:

"To develop a strategic approach to the recycling of UK flagged vessels that is consistent with the UK's national and international sustainable development commitments"

Specifically, the Strategy will set national policy for the recycling of UK Government-owned vessels, set out interim policy on the relevant controls for other UK flagged vessels and inform the UK position for international negotiations on ship dismantling.

The Government wishes to provide a positive example to the international shipping community, particularly owners and managers of UK flagged vessels, by ensuring its vessels are recycled in accordance with acceptable environmental, health and safety standards.

The Government continues to work at an international level through the forums of the Basel Convention, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization to progress towards globally agreed and enforceable standards in ship recycling.

"To support, with the provision of guidance, the development of UK capacity for recycling of end-of-life vessels in an environmentally sound manner"

Shipowners and ship recyclers need clear, practical guidance on the regulatory regimes pertaining to ship recycling in the UK. Improved understanding of the relevant regimes and assistance available to stakeholders involved in the recycling process will improve transparency of the options available to those wishing to dispose of end-of-life vessels.

The drivers and restraints to establish ship recycling capacity in the UK are many and varied and it is not within the remit of the Strategy to consider the economic viability of establishing facilities domestically. The Strategy will highlight sources of assistance to those wishing to establish facilities in the UK, including funding, available at the EU, national, regional and local level.

The terms of reference for the Strategy were agreed in November 2004. Public consultation on the Strategy is expected to take place in Autumn 2005 with publication expected in early 2006.

For further information, please contact Susan Wingfield.

Import of US Ships

Discussion of the issues related to the dismantling of end-of-life vessels was brought to the fore by the import of four decommissioned US naval vessels in 2003. The US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) signed a contract with Able UK in July 2003 for the recycling of 13 redundant naval vessels from the US National Defence Reserve Fleet. In November 2003, four of the vessels arrived at the Able UK facility. It transpired that not all the necessary permissions for their dismantling at Able's Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre (TERRC) were in place.

Ballard and Environment Agency reviews

As a result of the import of the US naval ships, the Environment Agency and Defra (by way of the Ballard Review) conducted separate reviews to identify the lessons learned. The reviews and their recommendations can be viewed via the links below.

Ballard review

• Covering letter (5 KB)
• Final report: US naval ships - review of regulatory structure (125 KB)
• Annex A: Chronology of events (25 KB)
• Annex B: Background legislation - regulatory regimes relevant to ship recovery (30 KB)
• Annex C: Routemap to authorisations needed to handle scrapping of ships (20 KB)
• Annex D: International agreements (20 KB)
• Annex E: Letter from Environment Agency Chief Executive to US Environmental Protection Agency (15 KB)
• Annex F: Organisations and individuals consulted (5 KB)

Environment Agency review

• US naval vessels: lessons learnt review (30 KB)

EFRA Report on 'Dismantling Defunct Ships in the UK'

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee published a report on 'Dismantling Defunct Ships in the UK' which was published in November 2004. The Report investigates current international practices in ship dismantling, the applicable international regulations and guidelines governing the industry and establishes the core principles of responsible recycling of ships. It also reviews action taken at the UK level to improve standards in ship dismantling and welcomes the UK Government's decision to publish a UK Ship Recycling Strategy.

The EFRA report and the Government's response are available via the links below

• EFRA Committee Report on 'Dismantling Defunct Ships in the UK'
• Government Response to the EFRA Report