Draft amendments to update Bangladesh’s ship recycling and hazardous waste management legislation have been developed through the IMO’s SENSREC project, with the aim of aligning the industry with international environmental and safety standards, IMO informed.
The proposed amendments were presented and reviewed during a high-level workshop in Dhaka (16 February), attended by key stakeholders in government and the private sector. They seek to bring the country’s shipbreaking sector in line with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention), as well as key provisions of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions.
Adviser to the Ministry of Shipping Mr. Sakhawat Hossain and Adviser to the Ministry of Industries Minister of Industries Mr. Rahman Khan both expressed their commitment to developing Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry, while stressing the need to address environmental performance and worker safety.
Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change and Water Resources, Ms. Rizwana Hasan called for enhanced monitoring of sustainability efforts and tougher penalties to enforce safety laws and prevent accidents and injury to the workforce.
The SENSREC initiative, funded by the Government of Norway (represented by Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh, H.E Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen at the event) and led by the IMO, aims to support developing countries in implementing the Hong Kong Convention and promote sustainable practices in ship recycling.
As the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) is set to take effect on June 26, 2025, the shipping industry is facing a pivotal moment in ship recycling regulations.
The enforcement of this regulation represents a significant milestone for sustainable ship recycling. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform underscored the urgency of enforcing stricter regulations, revealing that 80% of the global tonnage scrapped in 2023 was dismantled under substandard conditions, posing severe environmental and human rights risks. With the HKC’s implementation, these concerns will be addressed through standardized procedures and compliance requirements
From June 26, 2025, all ship recycling facilities in HKC signatory states must receive authorization from national authorities. However, stakeholders, including EU regulators, may impose additional requirements, such as those necessary for inclusion on the EU-approved list of recycling facilities. Shipowners should engage with stakeholders to align their recycling strategies with preferred facility standards.
