SCRAP METAL RECYCLING
PORT OF BROWNSVILLE IS THE FIRST AMERICAN PORT WITH EU SHIP RECYCLING ACCREDITATION
T
he Port of Brownsville, in Texas, is the only deepwater seaport directly on the U.S.–Mexico border. As of this spring, it is the only American port with a tenant accredited to dismantle and recycle European-flagged ships. International Shipbreaking Ltd. LLC, a tenant at the Port of Brownsville and part of the world-leading recycler EMR Metal Recycling, recently achieved the only U.S.–based European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) accreditation after investing $30 million in compliant infrastructure. “We have just received and safely moored our first EU ship recycling project, the MT Wolverine,” said Chris Green, senior manager at International Shipbreaking Ltd. “There is a big future in this industry and over the past year we have seen three times the number of inquiries from EU ship owners. This indicates the shipping industry is taking more responsibility for how their ships are recycled, rather than using the South Asian shipbreaking beaches.” Brownsville is already one of the largest ship recycling centres in operation for U.S.-flagged ships and military vessels, but the EU-based recognition creates a broad range of new opportunities for international ship owners, as well as major manufacturing companies that depend on large volumes of high-quality recycled steel and other metals. Notably, Brownsville is also the largest shipper of steel into Mexico and the closest port to Mexico’s industrial complex in Monterrey, a global manufacturing base for automobiles, appliances and consumer goods. With approximately 40,000 acres of land available for development and 17 miles of waterfront access, the port offers the recycled metal a direct route to non-congested international bridge crossings and rail connections. “Shipbuilding and ship recycling are found nowhere else in Texas. It’s in our DNA. The new accreditation not only opens doors for new activity at the port but also positively impacts the
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recyclingproductnews.com | MAY/JUNE 2021
There is a big future in this industry and, over the past year we have seen three times the number of inquiries from EU ship owners. This indicates the shipping industry is taking more responsibility for how their ships are recycled, rather than using the South Asian shipbreaking beaches. Chris Green, Senior Manager, International Shipbreaking Ltd. whole local economy, which thrives from these good paying jobs,” said Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano. The accreditation underlines the Port of Brownsville’s focus in transforming the Rio Grande Valley with positive investments and new employment opportunities. The more than 140 team members directly employed by International Shipbreaking take rigorous training to keep safety in mind when managing firstrate equipment. Direct jobs supported by the industry include two other large scrap metal recycling operations at the port, All Star Metals and SteelCoast, and numerous other companies in the U.S., Mexico and around the globe where recycled copper, brass, steel, armored plate and other scrapped metals are sold.
