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The issue of end-of-life boats is no longer confined to ports in mainland France. In Martinique too, wrecks and end-of-life units represent an environmental and logistical challenge. In response, the APER eco-organization has set up a dedicated channel, based on a locally-approved treatment center.
Local handling of end-of-life boats
In Martinique, yachtsmen now have a solution for disposing of their out-of-use boats, without abandoning them on a landfill site or at the bottom of a dock. The units concerned are taken care of by an official network, covering all stages from pollution control to recycling of materials.
This organization is based on collaboration between APER, an eco-organization for the pleasure boat sector, and the Métal Dom center, a subsidiary of the SEEN group, approved to process these units in Martinique.
A structured, accessible approach
The procedure is based on a simple principle. The owner submits a request via the recyclermonbateau.fr platform. Once the application has been validated, the processing center contacts the yachtsman to organize the rest of the process.
Dismantling is free of charge for French-registered pleasure boats between 2.5 m and 24 m in length. This free service covers dismantling, decontamination and material recovery operations.
Transport, the only item left to be paid for by the owner
If the treatment of the boat is paid for, transport to the approved center remains the responsibility of the owner. In some cases, APER can propose a flat-rate contribution to limit the cost of this step, often identified as a barrier to the process.
Nevertheless, this organization helps to avoid makeshift solutions that are sometimes costly or damaging to the environment, such as abandonment or uncontrolled dismantling.
An environmental challenge specific to island territories
In Martinique, the management of pleasure boating wrecks takes on a special dimension. Abandoned boats can quickly become sources of pollution, as well as obstacles to navigation and port operations.
Setting up a local processing chain means that these units can be processed without being exported to mainland France, thus reducing logistics costs and the transport footprint.
Extended producer responsibility in action
This sector falls within the framework of extended producer responsibility, which requires those involved in the boating industry to organize and finance the end-of-life of pleasure boats. APER plays a central role here, structuring operational solutions adapted to local realities.
For boaters in Martinique, this means a clear, structured and accessible process, enabling them to dispose of an out-of-use boat without letting it become a collective problem.
