Memorandum submitted by the Plymouth Marine
Laboratory
DISMANTLING OF
DEFUNCT SHIPS
IN THE
UK
1. Many of the considerations associated
with this topic have been previously discussed in:
— Second Report of Scientific Group
on "Decommissioning Offshore Structures" May 1998. A
report by NERC for DTI following the controversy surrounding the
attempt to dispose of Brent Spar in the deep Atlantic in 1995.
— UNEP Basel Convention Guidelines
for the "Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their
Disposal", 2001. This was developed in cooperation with International
Maritime Organisation, International Chamber of Shipping, International
Labour Organisation and environmental NGOs.
2. Whilst the NERC report to DTI dealt with
offshore structures (eg redundant oil platforms), many of the
issues discussed are fully applicable to ships. The report covers
areas including engineering requirements, environmental impact
and monitoring, inventory, safe removal and disposal of wastes,
and summarises the best practicable environmental options (BPEO).
In the case of defunct ships this would also need to consider
the potential contamination from historic cargoes and anti-fouling
treatments to the vessel.
3. Attention is drawn to the UNEP Basel
Convention on the "Trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes
and their disposal", which provides international guidelines
for the environmentally safe dismantling of obsolete ships. These
guidelines will provide a basis for the enquiry which will then
need to consider appropriate measures relating specifically to
the UK.
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
May 2004
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