Appeals Raised Against Dismissal Of Charges On Bocimar For Scraping Vessel In Bangladesh
On 25 June, the Court of Antwerp disregarded the costs pushed versus shipowner Bocimar NV for the junking of a vessel in a Bangladeshi backyard where a shipbreaking employee passed away.
In 2016, Bocimar NV, a subsidiary of Companie Maritime Belge (CMB), marketed the Belgian- flagged MINERAL WATER (IMO 9175066) to a scrap-dealer, additionally referred to as‘cash buyer’ Bocimar’s attorneys specified that the firm had actually simply looked for the highest possible cost for their end-of-life vessel, which at the time might just be gotten at the well known beaching backyards of Chattogram,Bangladesh [1]
They suggested that whilst neglecting the civils rights violations and also the ecological damages triggered by shipbreaking in Bangladesh for earnings “may not have been sympathetic”, “it was not illegal”.

Representation Image– Credits: Y M– YouTube
The European Union (EU) Ship Recycling Regulation which manages the recycling of EU-flagged vessels was taken on in 2013 yet just ended up being relevant in December 2018. It did hence not put on the 2016 scrap sale of Bocimar’s Belgian- flagged ship.
The Prosecutor rather suggested that the choice to junk the ship was absorbed Belgium at Bocimar’s Antwerp workplaces when the vessel was still cruising under the Belgian ship windows registry, making its disposal responsible to the regulations of the EU Waste Shipment Regulation, which restricts the export of harmful waste from the EU to non-OECD nations.
The right-minded application of Belgian and also EU regulation was not because of this challenged inCourt Neither did Bocimar NV conflict that the MINERAL WATER ended up being waste upon the firm’s choice to junk the ship. The vessel was, nevertheless, cruising in Chinese waters when it was cost scrap, and also Bocimar’s attorneys suggested that this suggested EU waste regulations might not be used as the ship never ever literally left as waste from the EU– disagreements that the Antwerp Court approved and also which the Prosecutor is currently appealing.
“Everything about the vessel points towards Belgium – a Belgian company choses to scrap its Belgian-flagged ship at a place where it is known that shipbreaking destroys workers’ health, local livelihoods and the environment, and is not hold liable? Companies have a duty of care meaning that they are accountable for business decisions that cause harm, even in their supply chain. ”
Ingvild Jenssen– Executive Director and also Founder– NGO Shipbreaking Platform
Bocimar NV, along with Euronav NV and also Exmar NV which are additionally carefully connected to the Belgian delivery household Saverys, remained to market their scrap ships to the beaching backyards also after the outrage of the MINERAL WATER’s junking in Bangladesh was exposed in the Standaard [2].
CMB NV and also firms connected to the Saverys household very own and also run a huge fleet [3], consisting of a minimum of 19 vessels developed prior to 2006 that are anticipated to get to completion of their functional life in the coming years.
“CMB NV and Euronav NV have ambitious plans on getting zero emission vessels powered by zero emission fuels into operation by 2030. This will inevitably lead to the scrapping of older ships not compatible with their ambitious GHG emission reduction targets. If CMB is not compelled to improve its recycling practices out of mere ‘sympathy’ with exploited workers and the coastal environments in South Asia, they will surely want to consider this if they are intent on obtaining sustainable financing for the greening of their fleet.”
Ingvild Jenssen– Executive Director and also Founder– NGO Shipbreaking Platform
Indeed, the just recently taken on EU Taxonomy on Sustainable Financing takes a life-cycle method to delivery. According to the taxonomy, funding focused on as an example environment reduction should not threaten any one of the EU’s various other ecological goals. For delivery firms wishing to protect financing to eco-friendly their procedures it is hence vital that they have a plan for making use of just EU-approved ship reusing centers at end-of-life.
NOTES
[1] The sale of the MINERAL WATER saw Bocimar NV gaining 5.400.000 USD. Scrap costs gotten in Bangladesh were around 300 USD/LDT in 2016, nearly the dual of what might be gotten for reusing at backyards situated in either China or Turkey which comply with greater ecological and also OHS criteria. Recycling in Ghent, Belgium, where vessels are taken apart along with and also making use of a slipway along with commercial hefty training cranes would certainly have brought Bocimar NV a revenue of around 100 USD/LDT.
[2] In 2016 Bocimar NV marketed 2 extra ships for junking in Bangladesh: BEAR SEEKER (IMO 9292254) at a rate of 6.500.000 USD and also BULL SEEKER (IMO 9292242) at a rate of 6.450.000 USD. Euronav NV marketed 3 Greek flagged vessels to beaching backyards: the CAP GEORGES (IMO 9128283) for 10.600.000 USD in 2017 and also the CAP JEAN (IMO 9158147) for 10.600.000 USD in 2018, both to Bangladesh, along with the CAP ROMUALD (IMO 9160229) in 2018 to India for 10.900.000 USD. Exmar NV marketed the Belgium flagged COURCHEVILLE (IMO 8804725) to India for an unrevealed cost in 2018.
[3] CMB NV, including its subsidiaries Bocimar NV and also Delphis NV, and also various other delivery firms carefully connected to the Saverys household, consisting of Exmar NV and also Euronav NV, have greater than 100 vessels– primarily vessels, mass- and also gas service providers.
[4] Euronav NV just recently revealed having actually increased an 80 million sustainability car loan with constructed in environment associated targets. Whilst they largely have a reasonably young fleet, a minimum of 9 vessels are developed prior to 2006. In 2017 and also 2018, Euronav NV marketed 3 vessels to beaching backyards in South Asia, see note [2] over.
Reference: shipbreakingplatform.org