The European Union’s list of approved shiprecycling yards has come under attack from shipowners’ organisation Bimco.

It says that only nine yards among the 26 on the list are “realistically open” for shiprecycling.

“The list looks a little like protectionism and clearly disadvantages European shipowners,” said Bimco general secretary and chief executive Angus Frew.

He says it is hard to take seriously the list which came into force at the end of last year.