Overview

According to a recent survey, there are an estimated six million boats in the EU alone, 95% of which are made of GRP (glass reinforced plastic).

Every year, around 1-2% (60,000-120,000) of these boats reach the end of their useful life.

Of these, only 2,000 are recycled, while 6,000-9,000 are abandoned.

Recycling old boats is an expensive business, costing an estimated €800 (£706) for a 7m (23ft) boat, rising to €1,500 (£1,324) for 10-12m (33-39ft) and up to €15,000 (£13,243) for boats over 15m (50ft) long.

Here in the UK, Boatbreakers in Portsmouth – the biggest yard dedicated to recycling boats in the UK – charge around £100 per foot, or £3,000 for a 30ft yacht, though the price varies depending on location and the boat's condition. 

by Nic Compton, Yachting Monthly, April 19, 2021

Read more..

John Roe, operations director of the Dead Boat Disposal Society, has been cleaning up derelict boats from B.C.'s waters for more than 25 years. 

Roe says the amount of plastic in a single 25-foot vessel is roughly equivalent to about 480,000 plastic straws being dumped into the ocean — a timely comparison, given the conversations around banning straws and other single-use items that end up in the oceans.

by CBC News, Aug 31, 2019

Read more..