First Ship Recycling Facility Opens in Germany

In a groundbreaking development for the maritime industry, Germany has approved its first facility dedicated to the dismantling and recycling of large ships. This facility, operated by EWD Benli Recycling GmbH, is located in Emden, East Frisia, rather than the more commonly known port cities of Hamburg or Kiel.

The company has secured the necessary governmental permits that classify it as a specialized waste management business. This classification comes with stringent regulations and costs, which have deterred many from pursuing similar ventures in the past. However, the management of EWD Benli Recycling GmbH sees a significant market demand for ship recycling and has actively decided to embrace these challenges.

The approval process for the facility took approximately one year, and the company is excited to begin operations that will meet local and international recycling needs. EWD Benli Recycling GmbH aims to focus primarily on the dismantling of large vessels, including passenger ships and ferries. The shipyard, established in 1903 as Nordseewerke - Emder Werft und Dock AG, currently employs 150 workers and features two floating docks, a dry dock, and nearly two kilometers of quay facilities.

According to estimates, the process of dismantling a typical 200-meter-long ship will take about eight weeks. This initiative comes as a response to the current practices in the industry, where many decommissioned ships are sent to countries like Pakistan for dismantling. These operations often occur under poor environmental conditions, raising concerns about the ecological and social implications of such practices.

The initiative has received support from officials, including the Environment Minister of Lower Saxony, who emphasized the need for sustainable ship recycling practices in Germany. Previous practices of exporting outdated industrial ships to Southeast Asia have been criticized for their environmental impact, as these vessels are often dismantled in hazardous conditions.

Globally, an estimated 700 ships are retired each year, with around 90 percent of these being dismantled in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, where environmental regulations and labor protections are less stringent compared to Europe.