Mission reports dramatic social & environment impacts of Dutch ECA supported dredging projects in Brazil

(Both ENDS, Amsterdam, 19 February 2013) In 2012 Both ENDS organised a ‘fact finding mission’ to review the social and environmental impacts of dredging activities in the Suape harbor in Brazil. The Dutch dredging company Van Oord is currently executing two dredging projects in this harbour, supported with an export credit insurance on behalf of the Dutch government through the export credit agency Atradius DSB. The dredging activities have dramatic social and environmental impacts affecting the livelihoods of local communities. This raises several doubts regarding the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) standards and policies by Atradius DSB.