Platform News – Clean Shipping Coalition: Maersk undermines its reputation with plan to circumvent ship recycling law

Published in June 08th, 2016

The Clean Shipping Coalition criticises container ship giant Maersk for its statement that is considers to flag out end-of-life vessels from the Danish or other European registries in order to circumvent the European Ship Recycling Regulation. The Clean Shipping Coalition, a global coalition of nine organisations promoting sustainable shipping, argues that Maersk’s move “seriously undermines its credibility as a responsible ship operator”.

"Maersk is a European company and should abide by European laws. Suggesting that it might use a flag of convenience to escape EU ship breaking rules designed to protect the environment and worker safety is scandalous, and will seriously undermine its credibility as a responsible ship owner and operator."
John Maggs - Senior Policy Advisor at Seas At Risk and President of the Clean Shipping Coalition
"While Maersk supports innovation in reducing air polluting emissions, this move shows a cavalier attitude towards the environmental impacts of dismantling ships in the intertidal zone. Maersk needs to reverse course on practices that it previously denounced and that would never be allowed in Europe."
Sotiris Raptis - Shipping Officer - Transport & Environment

Maersk has recently decided to go back to India to have its old ships scrapped in yards that operate breaking activities in the intertidal zone of the beach. These yards will not be listed by the European Commission as they cannot comply with the requirements under the European Ship Recycling Regulation.

"Maersk has sent a clear signal: either European environmental regulation accommodates for its practices in India, or the world’s largest ship owner will just ignore the Ship Recycling Regulation by flagging out. The threat to resort to non-European flags amounts to blackmailing law makers who seek to ensure that European ship owners have to maintain European standards in their business activities around the world."
Patrizia Heidegger - Executive Director - NGO Shipbreaking Platform

Click here to access the Clean Shipping Coalition's press release.

 

CONTACT THE TEAM
Nicola Mulinaris
Senior Communication and Policy Advisor
+32(0)260.94.420
Ingvild Jenssen
Director and Founder
+32(0)260.94.419

Related news

Brussels, Apr 12th 2016

Platform News – European Union sets a global standard for sustainable ship recycling: NGOs call on shipping companies to use EU approved yards

Today, the European Commission (EC) publishes technical guidance for ship recycling facilities that want to be approved under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. The European Union (EU)… Read More

Brussels, May 31st 2016

Platform News – NGO Shipbreaking Platform presents Annual Report 2015

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform presents its Annual Report 2015.   Check the new Annual Report to find out more about: – our findings about global shipbreaking practices in… Read More

Brussels, Oct 17th 2018

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #17

There were a total of 113 ships broken in the third quarter of 2018. Of these, 79 ships were sold to the beaches of South Asia for… Read More

Brussels, Mar 24th 2026

Press Release – Environmental NGOs urge action after European Commission study exposes abuse of vessel flagging rules

As the European Union positions itself as a global leader on ocean governance during the EU Ocean Days in Brussels and publishes its new Maritime Industrial Strategy,… Read More

MORE NEWS
Oslo, Sep 05th 2019

Press Release – NGOs release new report on North Sea oil and gas recycling

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform released today a report on offshore decommissioning during a seminar held in Oslo, Norway.

... Read More
Brussels, Nov 16th 2025

Platform News – EU Circular Economy Act: ship recycling can help decarbonise the EU’s steel and construction sectors

With a significant number of ships expected to reach the end of their service life in the coming years, ship recycling presents a strategic opportunity for Europe… Read More

Brussels, Apr 27th 2018

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #15

There were a total of 206 ships broken in the first quarter of 2018. Of these, 152 ships were sold to the beaches of South Asia for… Read More

Ankara, Aug 23rd 2022

Press Release – Turkey demands new survey of massive toxic warship before import


Turkish authority Eyyüp KARAHAN, General Director of Environmental Management, wrote to Brazilian IBAMA, requiring a new IHM to be conducted prior the export.

... Read More

Donate

NGO Shipbreaking Platform
The leading NGO coalition campaigning for clean and safe ship recycling

© 2019 NGO Shipbreaking Platform  |  Privacy Policy  |  Designed by Essence Creative  |  Hosted by Outfront