Germany has taken a significant step toward sustainable ship recycling with the launch of a new facility at the Port of Emden, which will allow vessels to be dismantled domestically instead of being shipped to Southeast Asia for demolition.
EWD Benli Recycling, part of the Emden-based shipyard Emden Werft und Dock (EWD), received the necessary permits from the Oldenburg State Trade Supervisory Office (GAA Oldenburg) earlier this year.
The facility is equipped to dismantle seagoing vessels, inland waterway ships, passenger ships, ferries, offshore wind turbines, and industrial plants.
Björn Sommer, Managing Director of EWD Benli Recycling, emphasized that “everything which enters the Port of Emden through the sea lock can now be dismantled at the site.” The development marks a turning point for Germany’s maritime industry, which has long struggled with legal and regulatory barriers to ship recycling.
Lower Saxony’s Environment Minister Christian Meyer welcomed the new facility, stressing its environmental importance. “This ensures that ships can now be recycled here in Germany instead of under poor conditions in distant countries,” Meyer said.
He added that old vessels shipped to Asia in the past often ended up being dismantled under hazardous conditions, causing environmental damage and posing serious risks to the health of local communities.
The permit issued to EWD Benli Recycling covers all steps of the ship recycling process, including dismantling, depollution, and the treatment of hazardous substances. This comprehensive approval sets the foundation for safe and environmentally sound operations, in line with international regulations.
Germany, along with Bremen and Lower Saxony, has been actively advocating for domestic ship recycling through the Conference of Environment Ministers. Their aim is to strengthen sustainability, reduce overseas dependency, and create new opportunities for raw material recovery within the country.
The move coincides with stricter international rules under the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which officially entered into force on June 26, 2025. The convention mandates higher safety standards, authorizing only approved facilities to dismantle end-of-life ships.
Europe has also been ahead on the matter, with its own ship recycling regulations entering into force back in November 2013. However, German companies have faced considerable challenges in obtaining licenses, often delaying projects and limiting domestic ship recycling efforts.
In 2024, the Association for Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering urged the government to review such legal hurdles, calling for more reasonable processes to help Germany establish itself as a hub for sustainable ship recycling.
The Emden facility is now expected to serve as a model for future projects, aligning Germany’s maritime industry with the European Green Deal and global climate commitments. By shifting ship dismantling to domestic soil, Germany not only strengthens its industrial resilience but also ensures environmental responsibility.
As the maritime sector adapts to the Hong Kong Convention, Emden’s ship recycling center symbolizes both compliance with international law and a firm step toward a greener, safer future for shipping.