"Powerhouse" for ship recycling

German Naval Yards in Kiel and the Cuxhaven-based start-up Leviathan have signed a letter of intent to establish a "powerhouse" for environmentally friendly ship recycling. The aim is to join forces in order to become the "engine of green ship recycling in Europe." The pioneering technology developed by Leviathan can now be offered to shipping companies for the demolition of ships in the large dock of the Kiel shipyard, supported by the existing infrastructure and the excellent labour force of the naval shipyard. The use of cold water technology will enable the world's first sustainable and virtually emission-free ship recycling. The functionality of the concept was recently demonstrated with the first ship recycling programme carried out by both partners in Kiel. According to Leviathan, the robot-assisted cold water cutting technology is constantly being further developed and improved. "Our vision of automated, human- and environmentally friendly ship recycling is now becoming a reality. At the same time, we are securing important steel scrap as a raw material for European steel production and helping European steel manufacturers to reduce their ecological footprint," Leviathan emphasises.