Page 12: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2018)

Scrapping Risks

About the Author

A Belgian ship owner was recently ? ned €750,000 and two of its se-

Dennis L. Bryant is with Bryant’s Mari-

GOVERNMENT UPDATE nior executives were banned from working in the shipping industry time Consulting, and a regular contribu- tor to Maritime Reporter & Engineering for a year after the company was convicted of the illegal export of

News as well as online at MaritimePro- vessels for scrapping ... The prosecutor had sought jail time.

fessional.com. t: 1 352 692 5493 e: [email protected]

Traditionally, when a ship reached to protect the environment. For many Asian yards. The prosecutor had sought 1992, obligates its member states to re- the end of its economic life, the owner ship owners these days, scrapping is (or jail time for the executives, but the court duce the international movements of sold it, often to a cash buyer, for scrap- should be) a matter requiring business expressed reluctance for such a measure hazardous wastes to prevent transfer of ping with little consideration of the next considerations beyond the offered cash as this was the ? rst known criminal pros- hazardous waste from developed to less step. Many ships ended up on a beach in price. ecution for illegal scrapping. developed countries. Its members con- south Asia (India, Pakistan, or Bangla- A Belgian ship owner was recently sist of virtually every nation, excepting desh) where they were cut apart and the ? ned €750,000 and two of its senior Basel Convention Haiti and the United States. Rather than metal was sold for scrap. The working executives were banned from working The Basel Convention on the Con- become party to the Basel Convention, conditions were sometimes dangerous in the shipping industry for a year after trol of Transboundary Movements of the United States relies on domestic leg- and hazardous to the workers’ health. the company was convicted of the illegal Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, islation to accomplish the same goals.

In addition, little was sometimes done export of vessels for scrapping in south which entered into effect on May 5, The de? nition of hazardous waste in the © Gudellaphoto/AdobeStock 12 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2018

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