Italian Shipping Trio Urged to Stop Beaching Ships

Italian shipping companies Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli are facing strong criticism from the NGO Shipbreaking Platform for their poor shipbreaking practices.

The global coalition of 19 environmental organisations said it calls upon the companies to take necessary actions to ensure the sustainable recycling of their end-of-life fleet as a matter of urgency.

As a member of the European Union, Italy is legally required to oblige to European waste laws as well as the standards for safe and green ship recycling as set in the new European Regulation on Ship Recycling.

According to the Platform, Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli have continued to sell their vessels to South Asian beaching yards which do not meet the requirements of the new EU Regulation on Ship Recycling. The data collected by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform show that the three Italian companies have since 2009 sold fifty-four end-of-life ships to South Asian beaching yards for substandard breaking.

“The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has constructively consulted with many responsible owners of vessels and has together with these companies identified sustainable solutions for clean and safe ship recycling. We would be glad to exchange with Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli about available solutions,” said NGO Shipbreaking Platform founder and policy advisor Ingvild Jenssen.

According to the Platform’s release, the Naples-based Grimaldi Group has acknowledged the importance of proper ship recycling, saying that they remain open to initiating a dialogue with the Platform with the aim of finding sustainable solutions for their end-of-life fleet.

Image: NGO/Adam Cohn