ICS and ECSA are lined up against the proposals to institute a bottom EU for the recycling of the ships



Shipowning association international ICS (International Chamber of Shipping) and that European ECSA (European Community Shipowners' Associations), that they represent beyond 80% of the tonnage of tonnage of world-wide the mercantile fleet, line up themselves against the project to constitute an European Bottom of recycling of the ships, that it has the scope to contribute to return the demolition of the ships economically convenient carried out in compliance with the regulations EU on the recycling of the ships, and reject with force the proposals times to obligate the ships, when they climb independently in the ports of the EU and from their flag, to pay for the licences of recycling of the ships of the European Union, proposals that if received - the two shipowning organizations denounce - the efforts completed from the International Maritime Organization (IMO endanger) in order to improve the working and environmental conditions in the Developing countries where they find the majority of the yards of naval demolition.

ICS and ECSA remember that a proposal currently to the examination of the EU commission previews that the money paid from the ships that climb in the ports of the EU, comprised those clappers flag of Countries not EU, is poured in an appropriate Bottom EU and given back only at the end of the working life of the ships, that is after many years, when - the two associations find - probably they have a various owner, and only on condition that the ship is recycled in a yard approved of from the EU commission.

"If the proposals to institute a Bottom EU of recycling of the ships are received - ICS and ECSA emphasize - serious problems with the partner commercial of the EU will cause, between which China, India, Japan and the United States". The two shipowning associations restate therefore that "the concept of licence of recycling of the ships, developed from advisers on behalf of the EU commission, must be firmly rejected".

"Beyond to being excessive complex, absolutely little practical and very difficult to administer for the EU - the general secretary of the ECSA, Patrick Verhoeven observes - the creation of such a Bottom will constitute faces for the international community that has adopted the convention of Hong Kong on the recycling of the ships, whose standards already are incorporated in analogous regulations EU".

"Such a draconian unilateral measure, above all if applied to ships EU - the general secretary of the ICS, Peter Hinchliffe evidences - is not probable that it is seen by the partner commercial of the EU as an interference to the competition in international the marine transport. There is the real danger that the other nations apply retaliation measures".

The ECSA and the ICS consider therefore that, rather, "the EU would have to zero in on as doing so as that the Member States of the EU ratify Convention IMO of Hong Kong, and recognizing the efforts completed from the Asian yards of demolition faces to obtain the certification second norms IMO". In particular, the two shipowning associations restate that "these yards must have a fair possibility to be enclosed in the list EU of the approved of systems of recycling that is defined on the base of the regulations EU on the recycling of the ships".

ECSA and ICS conclude announcing that they are preparing an opinion detailed on the institution proposals a communitarian Bottom that will be placed to the attention of the European Parliament, the EU commission and the Member States of the EU.