European Parliament backs Commission proposal for safer shipping, but votes against creation of fund for recycling...Under the Commission proposal, which was approved by the Parliament, ship owners would have to keep an inventory of any hazardous materials on board. They would be obliged to reduce the levels of hazardous materials before a ship can be recycled, and EU-registered ships could only be recycled at EU-approved facilities. If it gets the backing of member states, the proposal will effectively ban the beaching of EU-registered ships...At present, most ship-breaking takes place in developing countries on beaches, which presents a hazard both to the environment and to workers...Swedish centre-right MEP Christofer Fjellner said that it was too early to consider [a ship recycling] fund. He has put forward an amendment that asks the Commission to submit a legislative proposal by 2015 on how to incentivise the safe recycling of ships.