Green Yards Establish European Ship Recyclers Group

Five of the EU's approved recycling yards have signed an agreement to establish the European Ship Recyclers Group (ESR). The founding companies, Port of Bordeaux (France), Galloo (Belgium), Smedegaarden(Denmark), Scheepssloperij Nederland (The Netherlands) and DDR (Spain) will operate under the flag of the International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA). All five yards represent today's Best Industry Practices in ship recycling.

“Our first target", says newly elected ESR Chairman Peter Wyntin, "is to create awareness of the recycling capacity in Europe which today is over a million ton. We have to ensure that our member yards are on the top of the ship-owners’ list for dismantling their ships. Our message is a clear one. If we can handle them let’s keep the EU flagged ships in Europe.’’’

The European Ship Recyclers Group will speak as one voice towards the European Commission which is in charge of implementation of the new EU Ship Recycling Regulation. The future aim of the group is to unite all the green European recycling.