Press Release - Investigations on the Harrier tighten as it reaches Turkey for recycling

Press Release – Investigations on the Harrier tighten as it reaches Turkey for recycling

Published in August 29th, 2018

Norwegian press DN revealed this summer that Aqualis Offshore and insurance company Skuld Maritime Agency are under investigation for their involvement in the attempt to illegally export the Harrier to Pakistan for scrapping. Aqualis Offshore issued two certificates for the ship – one for a break-up voyage to Pakistan, another for a voyage to Dubai – and it is suspected that the latter was issued to dupe Norwegian authorities in order to circumvent the European waste export ban. Skuld Maritime Agency was involved in issuing the last-voyage insurance for the vessel and is therefore being investigated for having aided the illegal export.

The former and current owners of the ship, Georg Eide and cash buyer Wirana, are also targeted in the ongoing investigations, and risk being held criminally liable for their attempt to illegally export the Harrier.

Another owner, Herbjorn Hansson of Nordic American Tankers, is under the spotlight in Norway for having sold eight vessels for beaching. Reactions to these revelations have been strong with the Norwegian Oil Pension Fund as well as the banks DNB and Nordea condemning beaching as a method for breaking ships.

The Norwegian Environment Agency urges ship owners to use facilities that have been approved by the EU for the recycling of their vessels, regardless of the flag of their ship. Its director, Ellen Hambro, states that it is unacceptable to endanger workers’ health and pollute the environment in developing countries for the sake of higher profits.

Brussels, Oct 28th 2016

Platform News – Maersk incited business partner to opt for worst breaking practices for 14 ships

A third report by the investigative journalists of Danwatch, “Maersk and the shadowy deals”, reveals that the Danish container ship giant has incentivised the sale of 14… Read More

Brussels, Oct 30th 2020

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #23

There were a total of 170 ships broken in the third quarter of 2020. Of these, 110 ships were sold to the beaches of South Asia.

Brussels, Dec 12th 2016

Platform News – Worker killed in yard breaking German-owned container ship “Viktoria Wulff”

On 4 December, worker Shah Jahan was killed on the spot at Arefin shipbreaking yard in Chittagong, Bangladesh, where German container ship “Viktoria Wulff” (IMO 9252101) is… Read More

Brussels, Aug 14th 2023

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #34

Seven workers suffered an accident on South Asian beaches in the second quarter of 2023.

MORE NEWS

Brussels, Aug 10th 2021

Platform publishes South Asia Quarterly Update #26

Eleven workers suffered an accident on South Asian beaches in the second quarter of 2021.

Brussels, Feb 04th 2016

Press Release – NGO publishes 2015 list of all ships dismantled worldwide

Brussels, Jul 03rd 2017

Platform News – European institutions call on EU to address decommissioning of floating oil and gas structures

A joint event between the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and three Green Members of the European Parliament highlighted the paradox between the strict rules… Read More

Chattogram, Jul 24th 2019

Press Release – Worker dies at Kabir Steel’s shipbreaking yard in Bangladesh

Kabir Steel and Evergreen linked to worker’s death in Bangladesh.