Dutch ship owner Holland Maas Scheepvaart Beheer II has paid a price tag
of almost EUR 3 million (USD 3.4 million) for having beached a vessel for
scrapping in India.
of almost EUR 3 million (USD 3.4 million) for having beached a vessel for
scrapping in India.
According to a report by NGO Shipbreaking Platform, the company has been
fined EUR 780.000 and paid a settlement of EUR 2.2 million after it sold
the HMS Laurence to a cash buyer in 2013.
fined EUR 780.000 and paid a settlement of EUR 2.2 million after it sold
the HMS Laurence to a cash buyer in 2013.
The vessel ended up in Alang, India, where it was broken under
conditions that “cause serious damage to the environment and expose the
health of workers and the local population to grave danger,” the
association cited the Dutch Public Prosecutor.
conditions that “cause serious damage to the environment and expose the
health of workers and the local population to grave danger,” the
association cited the Dutch Public Prosecutor.
Following criminal investigations on the illegal export of the vessel
from Italy, the Dutch Public Prosecutor agreed to a settlement of EUR 2.2
million, the amount that Holland Maas Scheepvaart Beheer II had earned by
selling the ship to the beaching yard.
from Italy, the Dutch Public Prosecutor agreed to a settlement of EUR 2.2
million, the amount that Holland Maas Scheepvaart Beheer II had earned by
selling the ship to the beaching yard.
The Prosecutor stated that it had accepted the settlement as the company
has announced that it will take measures to avoid scrapping vessels on beaches
in the future.
has announced that it will take measures to avoid scrapping vessels on beaches
in the future.
In March last year another Dutch shipping company, Seatrade, was
convicted for having intended to scrap four vessels in India. Five subsidiaries
of the company received fines, as did two of Seatrade’s CEOs, who were also
sentenced to professional bans.
convicted for having intended to scrap four vessels in India. Five subsidiaries
of the company received fines, as did two of Seatrade’s CEOs, who were also
sentenced to professional bans.
Under the new legal regime, EU-flagged ships must be recycled only in
safe and sound facilities included by the EU in the European List of ship
recycling facilities. Beaching yards would not be accepted on the EU list as
they fall short of the environmental and safety requirements that the
Regulation sets, NGO Shipbreaking Platform noted.
safe and sound facilities included by the EU in the European List of ship
recycling facilities. Beaching yards would not be accepted on the EU list as
they fall short of the environmental and safety requirements that the
Regulation sets, NGO Shipbreaking Platform noted.
World Maritime News.
