Letter Wallström

Below the full text of the letter sent by European Commissioner for the Environment Margot Wallström to the IMO, Basel Convention and ILO

Brussels, 11 July 2003.

I am writing to draw your attention to my serious concern with regard to the practice of shipbreaking under unsafe conditions in non-OECD countries. You are of course well aware that the issue of exporting ships to shipbreaking yards in developing countries, notably in China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as Turkey, is being discussed at international level.

We estimate that around 6,000 to 7,000 ships are presently sent to non-OECD countries each year for scrapping. Moreover, this issue is likely to grow in importance as we push for earlier decommissioning of old and unsafe ships. Against this backdrop, the overall problem of dismantling ships in these countries is that it is often undertaken in operating conditions that, from environmental, health or safety perspectives, cannot be considered sound.

I recognise that the issues surrounding shipbreaking are complex and involve both sea and environmental law. That is why international solutions and co-operation are required. However, the international community must urgently deal with this issue in a comprehensive manner, addressing the environmental as well as the health and safety perspectives.

I know that the general issue of ship dismantling is being addressed in your respective organisations and that some progress is being made both in terms of developing guidelines and in terms of increased co-operation.However, given the scale and urgency of this problem, I would encourage you to give the highest priority to this issue. Through increased co-operation between your organisations, our common aim must be to find appropriate solutions that close any loopholes allowing ships to be scrapped under unsafe conditions in developing countries.

As European Commissioner for the Environment, I attach a great deal of importance to this issue. The application of the Basel Convention - and for non-EU countries, the European Waste Ship Regulation - sets the framework against which the export of end-of-life ships is regulated. I would therefore appreciate being kept informed of the joint work between your three organisations on this issue.