The EU has added to its approved ship recycling facilities list two Aliaga-based shipyards of Turkey’s Leyal Ship Recycling Group. Along with International Shipbreaking Limited’s Texas-based yard, they become the first yards on the list located outside the EU.

From 31 December 2018, the EU Ship Recycling Regulation will require all large sea-going vessels sailing under an EU Member State flag to use an approved ship recycling facility included in the European List.

“The new yards in Turkey and USA have demonstrated that they fulfil the strict requirements for inclusion in the List and as a result will have access to the recycling of ships flying the flags of the EU Member States,” the European Commission says. A further 24 yards located outside the EU have applied for approval. With the new update, the EU list of ship recycling facilities contains 26 yards.

“We are very proud of this milestone achievement, more so because LEYAL is the first non-European ship recycling facility worldwide to accede to the EU List of approved facilities and the first and only from Turkey, showcasing the strong QHSE credentials of the company and its strong commitment being at the forefront of developments,” Leyal tells Kallanish.

The new list is designed to stop EU ships, which represent 35% of the world fleet, from being dismantled on beaches in South Asia, under conditions harmful to workers’ health and the environment, the EC says.

Besides imported scrap, Turkish steelmakers source auto-bundle and shipbreaking scrap from the domestic market.