The Northern Endeavour, a decommissioned offshore oil facility, has departed Australia for dismantling in Denmark, with Singapore as a transit point. The vessel, which contains asbestos, radioactive scale, contaminated sludge, and heavy metals, is being exported without a hazardous waste permit.
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) criticised the government for relying on the OECD Control System rather than Australia’s hazardous waste permit framework. The case marks the first time this system has been applied to a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO).
According to the MUA, loopholes in current legislation have already allowed up to ten FPSOs to be sent overseas without proper permits. The union says this exposes foreign workers and communities in receiving countries to risks, while denying Australia the chance to build its own decommissioning capacity.
Denmark has developed facilities specialised in dismantling offshore oil and gas vessels, operating under European Union environmental and safety rules. The Northern Endeavour is set to be dismantled there after its transit through Singapore.
