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Integrated system ‘indispensable’
More than 700 vessels per annum are destined

for breaking facilities and this figure will

increase in the years to come, according to Veo-

lia. Putting in place an integrated system which

respects environmental, human, economic and

legal requirements will therefore become ‘indis-

pensable’, it says. The Veolia solution would

cover all aspects of ship recycling, including:

removal of hazardous and non-hazardous pol-

lutants; dismantling; treatment of recovered

materials; and marketing of the recyclables.

Describing ship dismantling as a ‘new chal-

lenge’ for the organisation, Veolia underlines

‘the size of the potential market’ and ‘the mag-

nitude of the need for appropriate solutions’

by quoting International Chamber of Shipping

estimates that, of the 50 000 ships criss-cross-

ing the world’s oceans, nearly 2000 of these –

irrespective of tonnage – should be removed

from service every year. ‘Veolia Environmental

Services positions itself with an industrial tool

and an international logistics organisation,

allowing it to meet this challenge,’ it adds.

Marine sector experience
Veolia has already accumulated significant

experience in the marine sector through,

notably, its participation in the Aker Offshore

Partner AS-led £250 million (US$ 500 mil-

lion) contract with operator TOTAL to dis-

mantle, recycle and dispose of Frigg field pro-

duction facilities in Norway and the Shetland

Islands. The three-year project, which began

in 2007, will see up to 16 000 tonnes pass

through SBS Logistics’ £1.2 million (US$ 2.4

million) Greenhead base on Shetland. Veolia

has been processing the material once it has

been brought ashore, including an 8800-tonne

modules support frame. The project has

involved: inspection and identification of

materials in each module; removal of lighting

and control equipment; treatment and dis-

posal of hazardous products; mechanical dis-

mantling; cutting of structures, tanks and

pipes; and preparation of metallics for recy-

cling using a mobile shredding unit.

Following completion of the load-in last

autumn, explains Veolia’s Director of Inte-

grated Management Services Mark Stanley,

the company is now ‘taking responsibility for

decommissioning of the modules support

frame providing specialist waste separation

and processing services with a target 98%

recycling/recovery rate’.

Offshore industry dismantling projects repre-

sent an emerging market, according to VES,

since more than 450 platforms in operation

today are scheduled to be dismantled over the

next 25 years.

VES believes it ‘can do for end-of-life ships

what it already does for platforms’. The group

aims to ‘develop maritime environment

industrial services’ which it intends to pro-

mote ‘via a global integrated offer’, including

dismantling operations and collection/treat-

ment of unwanted materials derived from

ships’ cargoes and wastewater.

‘Outright unacceptable’
The desire to establish an industry benchmark

in the ship dismantling sphere reflects VES’

wider philosophy. As VES’ Chief Executive Offi-

cer Denis Gasquet explains: ‘A lot of recovered

waste is not reused, and a lot of reused waste is

treated under conditions that are not sufficient-

ly supervised, if not outright unacceptable.

Competitiveness in the secondary materials

industry and the security of treatment methods

will depend on the logistics and tools which we

will be able to put into practice.’

Speaking about VES’ recycling coverage in gen-

eral, Mr Le Conte adds: ‘There is a competitive

advantage in being able to provide a complete

service: our clients benefit from the added

value as we combine all modes of processing.

All the more when clients are themselves large

industrialists and want a provider who has all

the solutions for their hazardous and non-haz-

ardous waste, as well as the best recycling

options. To this we can add all the other envi-

ronmental services provided by our group.’

‘Excellent synergies’
VES’ recycling interests are continuing to grow

across a number of countries and commodi-

ties. For example, its ambition to be a leader in

ferrous and non-ferrous scrap has led to recent

moves to strengthen its position in the sector.

In November last year, for example, the group

announced an agreement to acquire France’s

third-largest metal recovery and recycling

company, Bartin Recycling Group.

Veolia Environmental
Services
Veolia Environmental Services (VES) is a global
leader in hazardous industrial waste treatment
and the world’s second largest waste manage-
ment enterprise. Employing around 90 000
people in 36 countries, annual revenues amount
to approximately Euro 7.5 billion (US$ 11.8 bil-
lion). Its parent, environmental services giant
Veolia Environnement, is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris; it employs
more than 300 000 people and recorded con-
solidated revenues of more than Euro 32 billion
(US$ 50 billion) last year in line with the follo-
wing geographical split: France 44%; rest of
Europe 36%; North America 8%; Asia Pacific
region 7%; and the rest of the world 5%.

Veolia Environment Services’
headquarters in Paris.
(Photo: Veolia, Majani

d’Inguimbert)

Through its participation in the Aker Offshore Partner AS-led,
Veolia obtained a US$ 500 million contract with operator TOTAL to dismantle,

recycle and dispose of production facilities in Norway and the Shetland Islands.

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