From Dirty and Dangerous Shipbreaking to Safe and Green Ship Recycling

2026-07-22

Each year, around 800 large ocean ships reach the end of their operational life and are broken down to recover steel. Yet, only a fraction of these obsolete vessels - which also contain large amounts of hazardous materials such as asbestos, heavy metal laden paints and residue oils - are handled in a safe, sustainable manner. 90% of the end-of-life tonnage continues to be simply run ashore on tidal beaches in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan where unscrupulous shipbreaking companies exploit minimal enforcement of environmental and safety rules to maximize profits. Many of these ships are owned by European shipping companies and represent a loss of access to good quality scrap steel for the European steel sector. Increasing the use of scrap is one of the fastest and easiest strategies for the production of low-carbon steel products and fully aligns with the EU's Green Deal and Circular Economy objectives. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform campaigns to curb illegal exports of hazardous waste ships from the EU and promotes sustainable ship recycling. Its work includes research, communications and capacity building on a dual track aimed at influencing both policy makers and industry stakeholders. By soliciting synergies between especially progressive industry stakeholders and other relevant stakeholders, whilst at the same time naming and shaming bad practices of European ship owners and highlighting solutions to legal loopholes, the Platform’s work is anticipated to create a catalyst for reform and a shift towards optimised recovery of ship materials, in line with polluter pays and circular economy objectives.

Belgium

2026-01-01