Italian Ship Owners Accused of Poor Shipbreaking Practices

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

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a global coalition of 19 environmental, human rights and labor rights organizations working to end polluting and dangerous shipbreaking, denounced the companies, calling upon them to take action to ensure the sustainable recycling of their end-of-life fleet. 

According to the group, Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli sell vessels to shipbreaking yards that do not respect basic human rights and environmental protection standards. Data collected by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform shows that the three Italian companies have since 2009 sold 54 end-of-life ships to South Asian beaching yards for substandard breaking. 

None of the South Asian beaching yards meets the requirements of the new EU Regulation on Ship Recycling. Based in the European Union, Grimaldi Group, Ignazio Messina and Vittorio Bogazzi & Figli are asked by NGO to adopt a ship recycling policy that is in line with EU standards and legislation.

The Platform has sent letters to the Italian ship owners and the Italian Shipowners’ Association, inviting them to initiate a constructive dialogue with the NGO.

“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 Ingvild Jenssen.

Naples based Grimaldi Group has reacted to the Platform’s letter and acknowledged the importance of proper ship recycling. Thanking the Platform for having brought this issue to their attention, Grimaldi Group further states that they remain open to initiating a dialogue with the Platform with the aim of finding sustainable solutions for their end-of-life fleet.