23 March 2012: The European Commission has proposed new ship breaking rules to ensure that the recycling of European ships takes place under higher environmental protection and worker health and safety standards. The rules would build on the framework outlined in the 2009 Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which has not yet entered into force.

Under the new rules, European ships would be required to: obtain an inventory certificate detailing any hazardous materials present; reduce the amount of hazardous materials before delivering ships to a recycling facility; use only authorized facilities meeting strict requirements; and report to national authorities where ships are being sent for recycling. The rules would also require EU member States to ratify the Hong Kong Convention.

The rules are designed to improve the traceability of European ships and ensure waste is properly disposed of in an environmentally sound manner by monitoring large vessels throughout their life-cycle from construction and operation, to decommissioning. The rules seek to address the environmental and health and safety problems faced in facilities, often located in South Asia, which break apart over 1000 old ships per year. The process exposes workers and the environment to asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tributyl tin and oil sludge, among others. The proposal will now be debated by the European Council and the European Parliament. [European Commission Press Release]