Maersk Line has announced plans to scrap eight panamax ships at yards in China and India.
The Danish container shipping company has been criticised throughout 2016 over its shipbreaking methods, specifically its return to beaching facilities in Alang, India where the company is intending to send more and more ships in the near future.
Maersk’s plan is to send four ships to Alang, with the other four destined for the Jiangyin Xiagang Changjiang Ship Recycling facility in China.
“Since our first vessels arrived in Alang earlier this year, we’ve seen significant progress – at the facility we are working with now, at the facilities that will recycle these next four vessels, and even at other facilities that have been encouraged to invest and upgrade,” said Annette Stube, Maersk Transport&Logitics Head of Sustainability.
Stube went on to say “with this tender, we have for the first time seen that the ship recyclers compete not only on price but also on standards. This indicates a move towards higher standards, and we will continue to encourage this development”.
Estimated transfer dates of the eight panamax vessels to the ship recycling yards are between mid-December 2016 and mid-March 2017.
PTI recently reported on the sale of a $60 million Rickmers vessel, the youngest containership ever sent to scrap.
