An Overview of Environmental, Health and Safety Concerns of Ship Recycling Methods

Within this position paper the argument that there is not currently enough scientific and technical knowledge and data when determining the overall impact to the environment and health and safety of dismantling and recycling practices in a specific ship recycling location is outlined. A brief overview of results from previously conducted European funded research is presented to support this point through illustrating that currently all locations and methods of ship recycling are having a negative impact on the environment, safety and health.
This paper is primarily aimed at policy-makers and wishes to convey the overall message that that in order to make a fair and consistent decision on the future manner, locations and standards of where and how ships will be dismantled and recycled a lot of variables and factors have to be considered based on science and reality. This can only be achieved through the assistance of up-to-date objective scientific data which as of now is currently missing.