accepted onto the EU ’ s list of ship recycling facilities . For example , the demolisher must be certified to perform demolitions . The Turku Repair Yard is Finland ’ s only shipyard specialising in ship repair that is large enough for ship demolitions , says Project Management Manager Oskari Kosonen from the Turku Repair Yard .
“ We could take apart ships up to 260 metres long . We are applying for the necessary permits from the Finnish authorities , which will hopefully help us to get accepted to the EU ’ s list of ship recycling facilities ,” Kosonen adds . The repair yard already has environmental certificates for ship repairs , but needs a few extra clearances to start demolitions .
On a typical year , the Turku Repair Yard handles the repair and maintenance of over 150 ships , ranging from tankers to passenger ferries . The biggest ships which have gone through the repair & maintenance process have been crude oil tankers .
HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE
Kim Kangas , Managing Director of Turku Repair Yard , says that if the EU holds firm in the matter – and the European ships will have to be demolished within the EU – there will be considerable business opportunities .
“ The Finnish maritime industry , for example , is a very well-functioning community that could make it work .”
Still , Kangas doesn ’ t believe that the Finns are the “ only game in town ”: other maritime players in other countries can participate easy enough , since demolishing in itself can be performed in various places around Europe .
“ There have been ship demolishing operations in Denmark , for example , for quite some time ,” he says .
Nevertheless , as there are issues such as safety , environment and material-efficiency that will come to play here , Kangas believes that Finns have a great chance of performing well in the race .
DEMO FOR DEMOLISH
Currently , the Ship Recycling project is still in its planning phase and the hunt is on for a “ demo ship ” that will be demolished as a part of the project . Programme Manager Piia Moilanen from Tekes believes that the pilot demo ship will be found soon enough : the Turku Repair Yard could , conceivably get to work in demolishing the demo ship in October 2017 .
According to Moilanen , the Ship Recycling project is a prime example of the way in which new environmental regulation creates new cleantech business opportunities in the sector .
“ Demolition and recycling expertise could also contribute to sustainable shipbuilding ,” says Moilanen .
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The hunt is on for a ‘ demo ship .’
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING
Tekes has provided funding for ship demolition planning , via the Government ’ s funding for key projects ; such funding is allocated for demo projects in the bio , cleantech and digital sectors . Creating an entire new industry is an intriguing possibility , Moilanen comments .
“ We expect that there will be various forms of expertise and solutions that emerge around the demolishing itself ,” she says , adding that the new know-how could have tie-ins to circular economy , sustainable ship planning and building as well as cutting-edge demolishing technology .
“ We perceive that especially the multiplier effects can be scalable by nature .” n
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