ISRA Network

Meeting in Brussels with European Commission, member states and stakeholders on 13 February 2020 ISRA was invited to join this meeting which was organized by the EC, to evaluate the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, a year after its entry into force.  Other stakeholders: ECSA and NGO ship-breaking. ECSA referred to the lack of a global regulatory regime and was frustrated about the sluggish developments in this field. The Norwegian Shipowners, represented ECSA, gave an extensive overview of developments for responsible ship recycling activities and pointed out that the Hong Kong Convention is the only solution for a level playing on ship recycling. Director ISRA, Reinoud Pijpers ISRA was represented by Director Reinoud Pijpers and board member Peter Wyntin. Reinoud emphasized the need for a proper enforcement and a technical non-political accession policy for the EU-list. The regulation is clear, it is now up to the member states to enforce it. He distributed the letter concerning the responsibility of the member state that was sent by ISRA to all the member states in 2019. Board member ISRA, Peter Wyntin Board member Peter Wyntin gave a very impressive overview of the number of (EU) flag ships that were recycled on the beaches and had to conclude that the EU-SRR had no effect whatsoever.  He called up to the EC to come in action to the members states who fail to enforce and called upon the EC to think about a central point of contact for matters concerning enforcement. The EC will also publish figures from EMSA. Until now 17 march these figures are not published. As soon as these figures are published, ISRA will distribute them. Peter Wyntin also referred to the fact that numerous ships within the borders of the EU, but not flying an EU-flag can be recycled on a non-EU-facility in the EU. He showed a slide with a number of ships who fall under this definition. Ingvild Jenssen NGO Ship breaking platform Ingvild Jenssen showed that from 2009-2019 almost 400 workers lost their lives and 250 were severely injured. With some impressive slides she showed the convincing figures from the world of beaching. Furthermore, she illustrated that the polluters pay principle should be applied for ship recycling. Ingvild Jenssen referred to the several reports concerning a financial incentive. She argued that various financial driven possibilities were extensively scrutinized and that it takes political willingness to introduce them.     European Commission The EC, Mr. Pellegrini head of the waste department and successor of ms. Lenen, concluded that technical requirements are the basis for accession to the EU-list. This goes for every country outside the EU. He concluded that EMSA-figures (not yet disclosed) gave more or less the same picture as Peter Wyntin had shown: the fast amount of end of life ships is still going to the beaches. A central point for enforcement, as suggested by ISRA, could in theory be supported by the EC, but in practice, such an entity is not feasible in due time: member states have to take their responsibility. (Concerning the scope of the EU-SRR, the impression was that the EC would be willing to evaluate the EU-SRR, but not in due time). The EC related the EU-SRR to the HKC, and stated that the HKC will not come into force in due time and that Bangladesh remains a country of beach practices. This should be taken in account when evaluating the EU-SRR. (A formal evaluation of the EU-SRR is 18 months before the entry into force of the HKC). A financial incentive was not rejected and the EC seem to be positive to put this on the agenda as a means to prevent circumvention. The EC was interested in the way steel, as a commodity, relates to the ship recycling business. He was questioning whether the steel market was, in the EU, was interested to use the scrap, in that way making better process for the EU based recyclers and a reduction of CO2.  He suggested that ISRA should contact Eurofer, the association for steel producers, in the EU.   Summit EU-India 13 March 2020 The EC also referred to the coming summit between the EU and India. The applications to the EU-list from a number of Indian ship recycling facilities will be discussed. ISRA will address this item separately to the EC (this meeting is postponed due to the Corona crisis).        

Amsterdam, 28 January 2020 PRESS RELEASE Subject: ISRA announces the appointment of Dr. Konstantinos Galanis as its new Chairman of the Board On Tuesday 28^th of January 2020 the General Meeting of the International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA) unanimously appointed Dr. Konstantinos Galanis as its new Chairman of the Board. Dr. Galanis is succeeding Mr. Adem Simsek, who served as its Chairman for the past several years, overseeing the expansion of the Association across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Dr. Galanis has a strong academic and business background, holding a Ph.D from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and having over 20 years of professional shipping experience. Dr. Galanis has served on board ships and has taken a number of shoreside positions serving technical, operational and commercial roles, including tenure working for US listed shipping company. With the EU Ship Recycling Regulation already in force and with the IMO Hong Kong Convention fast approaching its entry-into-force criteria but still about 5 years away from application, Dr Galanis emphasises the turn of the decade will prove to be a turning point for the ship recycling sector. Immediately upon his election, he stated: “I am proud and honoured to lead this Association during a time of changes and challenges for the shipping industry, especially with respect to environmental compliance.  Our efforts in ship recycling will continue by integrating quality services both for the local communities as well as the international maritime industry, always based on the principles of safety, environmental protection and compliance.” Dr Galanis stresses there is a lot at stake for the recycling industry in the coming period. “There is not only the need of ensuring the proper enforcement of the EU Ship Recycling but we also have to see to a fair and balanced implementation of the Hong Kong Convention avoiding substandard practices and creating a level playing field for our ISRA members.” The Board of Directors of ISRA is confident that Dr. Galanis will successfully lead ISRA into the new decade, further strengthening its position and reputation as a creditable international organization promoting compliant, safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.

News item no.19 ISRA attends Round Table meeting UIA Associations in Brussels 4 November 2019 The UNION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, founded in 1907. They yearly organize a Round Table as an opportunity to learn through networking and through practice with other international organisations and to share experience and knowledge. Both the secretary general of ISRA, Bernard Veldhoven and director of ISRA, Reinoud Pijpers were present. Although ISRA is a non-member of the UIA, we received an invitation to participate. Some full learning sessions were attended, how to brand your name, what about the (vulnerability) of the financial position and should external funding, i.e. by non-members (of ISRA) be considered. Promotion activities (for organizing congresses etc.) from Canada, Rotterdam to Riga, were undertaken by the representatives of these cities/countries. ISRA talked with Canada and Riga to see if new members can be recruited in those countries and pointed out the importance of international events on ship recycling. NGO Shipbreaking During lunch a meeting with NGO Shipbreaking was arranged by ISRA. It was concluded that the EU-regulation did not end the illegal activities towards the beaches. Far too little is done. It was proposed to organize a meeting in 2020 together with ISRA for green recyclers, green ship-owners, banks, trade unions and other organizations. Europol and IMPEL and some inspectorates will be invited. ISRA will inform its members and use their input and cooperation. To be continued.  

News item nr.18 ISRA attended meeting The Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) International 8 October 2019 Director ISRA Reinoud Pijpers, attended a meeting of the Dutch Trade Union FNV-International. The meeting was opened by princess Laurentien with as central theme Social Dialogue.

Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands

International trade unionist Mr Kan Matsuzaki showed the progress that was made on the spot in India, Alang, by the safety and work training offered in cooperation with FNV International. He argued that there were already around 50 yards that give access to safety training courses, aimed at reducing accidents and injuries. He indicated that in India around 66.000 people found a job on the beaches at the top of the market. This number has lowered substantially since the market is weak and some yards have been modernized up to HKC-standards, thereby being confronted by lower steel prices to offer and hence lower amounts of end-of-life-ships to be recycled.

Mr Kan Matsuzaki

Secretary-general ECSA, Martin Dorsman, argued that a level playing field is absent and that for that reason ship-owners cannot be held responsible for taking their ships to the highest bidder. Curious enough this point of view was supported by the FNV- chairman of this meeting. FNV-members criticized this position heavily. ISRA will stay in contact with FNV-International.

News item no. 17, October 2019 ISRA/ESR at debate evening “With Bare Hands” on 4 October 2019 in Brussels ISRA/ESR’s Peter Wyntin was at the debate evening "With Bare Hands" organized by MO* Magazine, NGO Shipbreaking Platform and FIDH. The moderator was Gie Goris from MO*, journalist and expert on ship dismantling (https://www.mo.be/dossiers/schepen-slopen-brokken-maken) Two panel discussions focused on the toxic trade worldwide. The evening was concluded by the live performance "With Bare Hands" about the shipbreaking activities in Bangladesh. Contacts were made afterwards with MO* Magazine and the NGO Shipbreaking Platform to find out the possibilities for cooperation with ISRA/ESR regarding media coverage of the illegalities within the trade of end-of-life ships.  

News item no. 16 September 2019. Visit European Ship Recyclers (EU section of ISRA) Denmark.             ESR/ISRA was welcomed by the port of Frederikshavn. From 18-21 September 2019 Secretary general ISRA and Director ISRA attended a meeting of the ESR in Denmark organized by Board member and chairman of the ESR, Peter Wyntin of Galloo Gent. The discussions during the meeting made very clear that the system of enforcement does not work, despite the new EU-regulation: too many ships circumvent the regulation and end up at a beach. Peter presented a number of convincing violations by owners of European flagged ships who bring their end of life ships illegally to the beaches. The lack in the regulation that the owners as such are not addressed, feels very bad. These practices as shown in the past are still continued. Though the meeting was not explicit conclusive on measures to be taken it became clear that something has to be done to stop these illegalities. ISRA will work on it. The new (candidate) EU-commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius from Lithuania, responsible for the EU SRR will be approached by ISRA and confronted with the fact that EU flagged ships are still not offered to EU listed member states yards, despite the goals of the regulation. The members present felt that seeking publicity about the run of owners to beaches can be very effective. Because that might trigger politicians to take action. ISRA will contact NGO Shipbreaking to coordinate concrete publicity actions. ISRA itself will continue to approach enforcements agencies. Visit to member M.A.R.S. Modern American Recycling Services (M.A.R.S.) has opened a brand-new facility in Frederikshavn. This enormous facility can handle the biggest ships and offshore installations and will give work in the future for about 200 people. Crown prince Frederik opened this new facility. Visit to Smedegaarden The next day a visit was paid to the yard of Smedegaarden in Esbjerg. Morton Smedegaard showed us his recycling yard which is submitted to a huge renovation and extension. Morten also exploits an impressive storage with literally tons of spare parts and material to be reused. The second-hand store contributes structurally to the Smedegaarden recycling activities and provides continuity of the total activities.        

It is with great sadness that The International Ship Recycling Association has to inform you of the sudden passing of our co-founder Tom Peter Blankestijn. Tom Peter was instrumental in founding our Association in 2007. Sound and safe ship recycling was the point of departure for him, not only practiced in his company Sea2Cradle, but also intellectually in his numerous contributions in the field of policy making. For ISRA he was always very active whether in a visible role, or in the background. Tom Peter was 58. His passing is a great loss, not only for our Association, but the wider sector. We will remember him and his contribution fondly. At this moment in time our thoughts are with his family and friends.

News item no.15 June 2019. Visit Turkish delegation to maritime industry of the Netherlands, 18 June 2019. During a three day visit to the maritime industry of the Netherlands a delegation from Turkey, Turkish ministry of Environment and universities, had the opportunity to get acquainted with various parts of the maritime industry. ISRA made a presentation about sound and safe ship recycling and pointed out the role of Turkey in the past, the present and future in this field. Mr.Mehmet Tamer COBANOGLU Mr. M. Cobanoglu from the ministry of environment and urbanisation, presented the (Ter-temiz) Project. In this project activities of shipyards (Tuzla Shipyard Area Istanbul, Aliaga Ship Recycling Area) are scrutinized on effects of these activities on the environment. The results of this project are foreseen end of this year.    

News item no. 14 May 2019. ISRA attends meeting IMO, Hong Kong Convention 10 May 2019, London Director ISRA, Reinoud Pijpers, emphasized the importance of China as a ship recycling country with top facilities. The secretary general of the IMO, Mr. Kitack Lim in close cooperation with the Japanese government organized this meeting “towards the early entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention”. About 300 attendees were present. The purpose of the seminar was to increase the international awareness of the importance of an early entry into of the HKC. The meeting was opened by Mr. Kitack Lim. Secretary general IMO Mr. Kitack Lim A broad range of organizations were present. Amongst them: ICS, ECSA, Class NK and ISRA. From the “member states” of the IMO, Japan, India, Bangladesh, Norway China participated. The EU also participated in this event. Director ISRA introduced ISRA in his presentation as the company based association promoting sound and safe ship recycling. He pointed out that the Hong Kong Convention was a good first step on sound and safe ship recycling, but that the EU-Regulation with its strict technical requirements and the verification/certification process through an independent verifier is covering the ISRA standards and practices. Further more he took this opportunity to illustrate the importance of the Chinese market for ship recycling. China has excellent ship recycling facilities. China being a large ship building exporting can balance this export by re-opening the borders for end of life ships. ISRA called upon the Chinese authorities to reconsider their policies in this field.