Support for UK boat scrapping scheme

A working party has been set up by the European Boating Association (EBA) to look at the issue of end-of-life boats and how they should be disposed of.

Discussions are already underway with the European Boating Industry and Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

The RYA, which is part of the EBA, said the group would be meeting in January 2019 to look at the legacy of existing end-of-life glass reinforced plastic (GRP) and composite boats and how future designs could take into account dismantling and the use of recyclable materials.

The RYA's cruising manager, Stuart Carruthers said the RYA has long recognised that despite considerable advances in waste management, there was a 'compelling need for specific measures related to management, scrapping and recycling of GRP boats.

'The RYA would be supportive of any UK scheme that the UK Government and industry may introduce to ease the financial burden of disposing of boats that are beyond economic repair and whose owners no longer have any use for them. The cost of dealing with the legacy problem is a significant factor and one of the main reasons that progress on resolving this issue has been so slow,' he added.

Carruthers said the EBA's working group would seek the views of key stakeholders, such as boatbuilders.

Around the UK, abandoned boats blight harbours and waterways, and cause issues for sailing clubs, which are often left to deal with yachts abandoned on swinging moorings.

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In 2018, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) found €300,000 (approx £267,238) in subsidies to pay for 500 boats under three tonnes to be scrapped and recycled free of charge. The owners just had to pay the transportation costs.

Researchers have calculated that the average cost of conventionally dismantling a 7m (23ft) boat including logistics is €800 (approx £712); €1,500 (approx £1,336) for a 10-12m (33-40ft) boat; and €15,000 (approx £13,361) for boats over 15m (50ft).

by Katy Stickland, Yachting Monthly,  January 23, 2019

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