Members of Turkish organisations raise alarm about critical levels of pollution in Aliağa, as well as severe systemic mismanagement, and continue their call to remove Turkish shipbreaking yards from the EU list of ship recycling facilities until necessary improvements are introduced by the Turkish authorities and the yards.

On 24 February, representatives of Turkish civil society organisations [1] met with representatives of the European Commission from DG ENVI. Supported by Brussels-based NGO Shipbreaking Platform and the European Environmental Bureau, the organisations informed the Commission about the severe environmental degradation caused by shipbreaking activities in Aliağa, as well as pending legal cases [2] addressing systemic issues in the sector.

An open letter requesting the removal of Aliağa-based shipbreaking yards was sent to the European Commission in November last year, in which the parties requested the removal of Turkish yards from the EU list based on de facto double operating standards and significant environmental and health risks.

According to a recent report, the area is heavily contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). These pollutants, some of which are currently regulated or banned under the Aarhus Protocol and the Stockholm Convention, come from industrial activities, and are very difficult to remove from the environment once they have been released. The findings show that the shipbreaking area contains the highest levels of POPs, clearly pointing to the ship recycling yards as the main source of contamination.

Several serious incidents at Aliağa shipbreaking yards have occurred these past months, including at yards that remain on the EU List. On 20 February, during the dismantling of the LILY HA (IMO 8116972) at Avşar Ship Recycling yard, an EU-listed facility, unidentified liquid substances were discharged directly into the sea. The incident was reported by a local whistleblower, who alerted the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, as well as the European Commission. Avşar has stated to the NGO Shipbreaking Platform that the liquid thrown overboard the LILY HA was a biochemical cleaner used to remedy pollution originating from outside their yard, and in line with the facility’s relevant procedures. No incident report is, however, available.

Another accident happened on 8 January at the EU-listed Leyal yard, where GNV Antares (IMO 8503797) collided with an oil platform in the neighbouring Metaş yard, causing serious damage and flooding at the stern, including the engine room. Since then, oil residue, likely mixed with other pollutants, has been continuously and deliberately being discharged into the sea through pipes.

As seen in a video taken on 28 January, the tower of the oil rig that crashed into the GNV Antares was pulled down and dropped directly into the sea during dismantling operations.

The problems caused by the shipbreaking activities in Aliağa, including incidents such as those mentioned above, were thoroughly examined in the report on Turkish yards written by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.

NGO Shipbreaking Platform supports the Turkish civil society organisations and backs their call to cancel the EU approvals for Aliağa-based shipbreaking yards, and furthermore requests that the EU thoroughly investigate the recent incidents that have occurred at EU approved facilities. We also call on Turkish authorities to effectively monitor, take action to clamp down on breaches, and support the transitioning of the sector to industrial solutions that can ensure full containment. The recent incidents illustrate the inherent risks of using the landing method which should be phased out.

“Every yard present on the EU list should operate under the same conditions and standards. Transparency, effective monitoring, and stronger environmental, social and occupational health standards need to be put in place in shipbreaking sector in Aliağa before the EU can accept sending EU ships there for dismantling,” says Ekin Sakin, Policy Officer at the NGO Shipbreaking Platform.

The EU List of ship recycling facilities currently contains 10 ship recycling yards in Turkey. Since 2016, 4 Turkish yards have been removed from the EU list.
Source: NGO Shipbreaking Platform