When Boskalis decommissions ships it is standard practice to see to it that they are dismantled both responsibly and safely.
Preconditions are:
- a hard surface
- certification of the yard
- the responsible disposal of waste.
To get the Para and the Mercurius round to the other side you would either have to tow them or use transport vessels to get them through the Panama Canal, which is very costly, and also generates extra carbon emissions. In 2013 we found a yard on the west coast of Mexico that does not yet meet all of our standards but is prepared to invest with us in an upgrade. We are prepared to invest in the yard, for example by sharing our knowledge and assisting and facilitating them in the process. In addition to the usual Health & Safety appraisal, an independent body will monitor waste disposal, environmental issues and ship dismantling. When possible, we will recycle ship parts. Arjan Schrijen, Fleet Manager
Boskalis sets an example for the maritime sector by keeping ahead of the regulations for ship recycling. The management clearly places a strong emphasis on ‘people’ and ‘planet’ when selecting shipyards for dismantling We appreciate the transparent communication and we look forward to an ongoing dialogue with the aim of further optimizing the recycling process from the environmental perspective. Merijn Hougee, NGO North Sea Foundation
