EU-Approved Ship Recycling: Regulation, Capacity, and Compliance
The EU Ship Recycling Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013) requires all large seagoing vessels flying an EU Member State flag to be recycled only at facilities included in the European List of ship recycling facilities. As of February 2025, the 14th edition of the European List includes 43 approved facilities across Europe, Turkey, and the United States.
Geographic Distribution
| Region | Number of Yards |
|---|---|
| EU Member States | 24 |
| Norway & UK | 7 |
| Turkey | 11 |
| United States | 1 |
Capacity vs. Demand
The combined annual recycling capacity of yards on the European List exceeds 2.85 million LDT, far surpassing demand from the EU-flagged fleet. Several facilities — notably Leyal in Aliaga, Turkey and International Shipbreaking in Brownsville, Texas — can handle vessels exceeding 300 meters in length, including FPSOs and large tankers.
Approval and Compliance Requirements
Every facility on the European List must demonstrate compliance with stringent environmental and occupational safety standards:
- EU-based yards
- Assessed by their national competent authorities, who verify compliance and notify the European Commission for listing.
- Third-country yards
- Must apply directly to the European Commission, which evaluates their operations against Regulation requirements before inclusion.
Key compliance areas include containment of hazardous materials (asbestos, PCBs, heavy metals), worker safety protocols, and environmentally sound waste management. Inclusion is typically granted for a five-year period, subject to renewal.
Industry Developments
The European Commission removed three facilities from the list in its February 2025 update — yards in Latvia, Lithuania, and Turkey — while adding one yard each in the Netherlands and Turkey. Safety incidents at certain Turkish yards, including fatal accidents, have led to removals in previous editions, underscoring the Commission's commitment to enforcement.
The European Ship Recyclers Group, formed by leading EU-based yards, advocates for higher standards and fair competition between European and third-country facilities.