ClassNK announced that it became a Green Award incentive provider, to extend cooperation with the foundation on minimizing negative effects of the shipping industry. Green Award audits and certifies ships and ship managers that demonstrate excellent performance and go beyond industry statutory regulations in terms of safety, quality and environmental protection.
Current issues of concern of the shipping industry are the focus of both organisations. Improvement of maritime security, safety of seafarers and reduction of ecological footprint require actions and industry-wide implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility principles.
As informed, ClassNK has been addressing specifically the issue of ship recycling in numerous ways, including carrying out inspections on compliance with the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) and issuing the world’s first HKC statement of compliance for ship recycling facilities in 2012 and the South Asia first statement in 2015. Moreover ClassNK offers a software solution for the development and maintenance of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), which is one of the regulatory requirements for ships.
Jan Fransen of the Green Award Foundation, welcomed ClassNK’s decision to become an incentive provider: “Responsible approach to all the issues around recycling of ships containing hazardous materials such as heavy metals, asbestos, ozone-depleting substances and others will benefit not only the maritime industry, but local communities, entire countries and the general public.“
Speaking on the occasion Tetsuya Kinoshita, ClassNK Senior Executive Vice President and the member of Board of Experts, the Green Award Foundation said:
“As the IHM contains ship specific locations and quantities of hazardous substances on board, a ship recycling facility can utilize the information for its safe and environmentally sound recycling practices. Recognizing the IHM is a key element for better ship recycling. ClassNK is glad to team up with the Green Award Foundation to launch this collaborative initiative promoting IHM development.”
