The Basel Convention and its application to ship dismantling

Multi-country workshop on management of ship dismantling and related hazardous waste

15-16 April 2013, Bratislava, Slovakia

Susan Wingfield, Programme OfficerUNEP Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam & Stockholm Conventions

Contents

• Environmental risks associated with ship dismantling / breaking / scrapping/ recycling

• Basel’s involvement in ship recycling

• What is the status quo?

• COP 11 and beyond

• Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

Environmental risks and concerns

• Ship recycling: activity itself is a sustainable way of disposing of end-of-life vessels

• Risks to environment and workers related to the ship recycling methodology employed

• Concern over hazardous materials onboard ships and their safe management

• Implications for human health and the environment which are intrinsically linked

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: Bangladesh

Beaching: cause for concern

• Prevalent in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan• Standards vary between countries, and between

facilities• Often limited use of PPE, exposure to hazardous

materials and unsafe working conditions• Large inter-tidal zones (particularly in India and

Bangladesh): suitable for beaching, difficult for containment of hazards

• Improvements witnessed in past 5 years

Slipway breaking: Turkey

Slipway breaking: Turkey

Slipway breaking: improved control

• Turkey: approx. 20 facilities in short stretch of coastline

• Small tidal range, ‘control’ of inter-tidal zone

• Hard-standing areas, permanent drainage systems, containment booms

• Prominent role for Ship Recyclers’ Association of Turkey, e.g. in waste management activities

Alongside: China

Alongside: China

Alongside: Benefits

• “Top down” recycling approach, containment provided by hull of ship

• Pier provides hard standing areas for secondary dismantling

• Containment areas for storage and/or treatment of hazardous materials

• Strong regulation of facilities in China, control of process from ship dismantling to disposal of hazardous materials

Hazardous materials/wastes

• These have the key impact on the environment (and human health)

• Mismanagement can have devastating effects for workers, surrounding communities and the local environment

• What are the main hazards onboard ships?

Asbestos

All forms are hazardousIt does not dissolve in water or evaporateIt is resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation

When broken up, fine fibres are released into the air which can be inhaled or swallowed

The fine fibres can be dispersed to the surrounding environment and communities

Asbestosis = scars on lungs, breathing problems, lung cancerMay not show for 20-30 years

Heavy metals

May contain or be coated with toxic materials

Fumes and particles can be inhaled and swallowed which accumulate in blood and bonesSome heavy metals bioaccumulate

Metal fumes disperse through air to surrounding environmentLeach into the ground and waterAccumulates in fish and shellfish

Brain, kidney, heart and nervous system damage

Children very susceptible to poisoning

PCB

Toxic in original formEven more toxic when heated (i.e. Gas cutting, cable burning)

Fumes can be inhaled, swallowed, absorbed through skinBioaccumulate

Hard to recycle and dispose ofSpread to surrounding environment through air, soil, wildlife

CancerLiver, brain, immune system damage

Affect unborn children

Oils and fuelsOils and fuels themselves are toxicOily waste from cleaning operations is also toxic

Inhalation of fumesConsumption of contaminated fish and water

Contaminate surrounding environment, fish, birds, other marine life

Fire hazardCauses explosions

Burns and loss of life due to explosionsBreathing problemsOrgan failure

Other hazardous components

• Paints and coatings (containing PCBs, heavy metals, TBT)

• Bilge and ballast water (containing hydrocarbons, biocides, heavy metals, non-indigenous organisms)

• Cargo residues (containing chemicals, oils, gases)

• Other chemicals and flame retardants (antifreeze fluids, compressed gases, CFCs)

Involvement in Ship Dismantling

• On BC agenda since late 1990s

• Technical Guidelines on ship dismantling adopted in 2002– ESM– Mitigating environmental

risks– Recommended design,

construction, operation and control procedures

Other existing standards

• IMO (2003) and ILO (2004) Guidelines

• Other Basel Guidelines on certain waste streams/disposal methodologies:– POPs wastes

– PCBs

– Mercury

– Waste oils

– Landfill

– Incineration

Involvement in Ship Dismantling

• Decision VII/26 (COP 7 in 2004):“a ship may become waste as defined in Article 2 of the Basel Convention and at the same time may be defined as a ship under other international rules”

• Decision VII/26(paraphrased):

Invites the IMO to continue work aimed at the establishment of mandatory requirements to ensure ESM of ship dismantling (should be an equivalent level of control to the Basel Convention) 

Involvement in Ship Dismantling

• IMO Assembly resolution in 2005: New legally-binding instrument on Ship Recycling

• Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships adopted in May 2009 at a Diplomatic Conference

Equivalent level of control?

Some points of contention (“no equivalent level of control” camp):

• Exclusion of certain types of ships

• No import or export prohibitions

• Where is traceability / transparency of hazardous materials?

• Weaker prior notification and consent system

• No prevention of illegal traffic and duty to re-import

Equivalent level of control?

Decision BC-10/17 (COP 10 in 2011)

• No consensus on equivalent level of control• Parties encouraged to ratify Hong Kong Convention• Basel should continue to assist countries to apply the

Convention as it relates to ships• Develop capacity building programmes

Status quo• State of uncertainty

– Unclear on question of equivalency

– Currently no Hong Kong ratifications

– Basel Convention should “continue to assist countries to apply to Basel Convention as it relates to ships”: …?

• Or is it?

– Parties can apply and enforce the Basel Convention

– Regional solution(s): e.g. European regulations

– Ratifications of the Hong Kong Convention are imminent?

Boundary issues: Hong Kong & Basel

• Regulations 20.3 and 20.4 of Hong Kong:– Ensure safe and ESM of all

hazardous materials and wastes

– Identify waste management and disposal sites

– Wastes generated transferred to authorised management facility

Boundary issues: Hong Kong & Basel

• Article 4 on ESM under Basel:– Minimise generation of hazardous

wastes– Availability of adequate waste

disposal facilities– Prevention of pollution and

minimisation of consequences for human health and environment

– Authorisation for those transporting or disposing of hazardous waste

Boundary issues: Interface HKC:BC

• Important for the ship recycling facility and the downstream waste treatment to be compatible. Operations such as:

- Storage- Treatment

may be carried out at both the ship recycling facility site and elsewhere but:

- Advanced treatment - Incineration- Landfilling

• Will usually be carried out off-site (Basel Convention transposed into national legislation)

COP 11 and beyond

• Basel COP 11: April/May 2013

• Ship dismantling on the agenda: – Focus on developments within the IMO (i.e. Hong

Kong Convention guidelines) and Basel’s capacity building programme

• A key focus of the Basel COP:– Improving effectiveness of the Basel Convention –

i.e. entry into force of the Ban Amendment and further defining/clarifying ESM

COP 11 and beyond• Secretariat approach to act

on the mandate given by our Parties:– contribute expertise e.g.

hazardous waste management at facilities and downstream: Basel principle of ESM will continue to apply (HKC:BC interface)

– participation in international dialogue

– capacity building

Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

• Developed by SBC in 2007

• encourage collaboration to improve worker health and safety and environmental conditions in ship recycling countries

• Variety of technical capacity building activities undertaken at Basel Parties’ request: building intellectual capital

Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

• Technology & Knowledge Transfer Workshop: building partnerships

• Guidance and train-the-trainer materials for (i) management and supervisors at ship recycling facilities and (ii) competent authorities

• Feasibility study: cost-effective alternatives to the beaching method of ship recycling

• All available on Basel website

Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling

• New project commencing June 2013:– Inventories of Hazardous Waste to be developed

for Chittagong, Bangladesh and Gadani/Hub, Pakistan regions – taking into account both ship recycling and other industrial activities in the region

– Development of business cases to enhance downstream capacity for ESM of hazardous materials – basis for loans/investment/public-private partnerships to develop infrastructure

Conclusion

• Basel Convention is an effective instrument for regulating global waste trade

• Hong Kong Convention specifically tailored to ship recycling issue

• No consensus on equivalency: co-existence of two instruments

• Current efforts to improve effectiveness of the Basel Convention: focus on ESM

• Basel contribution to capacity building within areas of its competency will continue

For further informationFor further information

Visit the Basel Convention Website:

www.basel.int

Tel: [+41 22] 917 8406 Fax: [+41 22] 797 3454

Email: susan.wingfield@unep.org