From 29 March 2019, when the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, the whole primary and secondary European law will no longer apply to the UK. Therefore, also Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 20 November 2013, on ship recycling will cease to apply.

One of the consequences will be the disapplication of Article 6(2) of the Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013, which states that owners of ships flying the flag of a Member State shall ensure that ships destined to be recycled are only recycled at ship recycling facilities that are included in the European List of ship recycling facilities (‘the European List’). As of the withdrawal date, every ship recycling facilities located in the United Kingdom will no longer be included in the “European List”, therefore the owners of ships flying the flag of a Member State will not be able to make use of these facilities to recycle their ships.

However, the Commission may add facilities located in third countries to the European List, in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013.

Davide Scavuzzo