The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie) suspects Jumbo Shipping from Schiedam of irregularities in dealing with ships heading for the scrap yard. The shipping company denies the allegations and states that the family company brought the ships to the scrapyard in Turkey and that all papers were in order.

According to the OM, two seagoing vessels were illegally transferred to Turkey in 2014 and 2015. It was later found and the scrap yard that the company was in breach of the European Waste Shipment Regulation (EWSR), due to harmful substances such as oil, fuels, batteries, cooling installations and asbestos still present.

According to the regulations, the authorities should have been notified. However, it was not the case, says OM.

Good or not

“This is the first time in the company’s existence that we are confronted with allegations such as have now been made by the Public Prosecution Service,” spokesperson Charles Huijskens responded to AD . “Jumbo is a family business with strict norms and values. The motto is: we do it right, or we don’t. In the period up to 2015, Jumbo has removed two ships from its fleet. These ships were eventually delivered for dismantling and recycling to a shipyard in Turkey that was highly regarded at the time. At the time, this yard had all the certifications.”

The Public Prosecution Service is demanding community service of up to 120 hours against three people and also €200,000 from shipping company Jumbo Shipping, of which Spirit BV, Kahn Scheepvaart BV and Daniëlla NV are part. The court will make a decision on June 28.

This article was originally written and published by Tessa Heerschop on Schuttevaer