Restrictions on shipbreaking proposed in Oregon

Restrictions on shipbreaking proposed in Oregon Legislators in Oregon have introduced a bill that would prohibit shipbreaking in its territorial sea and require dismantling of ships in their state to be done in a graving dock or floating dry dock.
   The aim is to prevent hazardous materials or 'fouling organisms' such as seaweeds or crustaceans from fouling waterways.
   Bill S432 was introduced by Democrats Joanne Verger and Betsy Johnson.
   The Daily Astorian newspaper applauded the proposed legislation last month, expressing hope that it would 'prod Congress to set national standards.' In an editorial, the paper noted that in the past decade 'companies have proposed to dismantle ships on the Astoria waterfront. In one proposal, an aircraft carrier would have been torn apart at Port of Astoria docks, near the heart of town.
   'Old ships are full of contaminants such as asbestos and PCBs. The work is quite dangerous and some firms have spotty safety records,' the paper said. It noted that 'after the Baltimore Sun exposed elements of the industry in a 1997 series, Maryland's Sen. Barbara Mikulski wrote legislation to tighten up U.S. policy.'
   (For an article on shipbreaking in Baltimore, see the September 2006 American Shipper, pages 14-17.)