BIMCO reports that COVID-19 impacts the smooth implementation of the new inventory of hazardous materials requirements, which is due to December 31, 2020.
Specifically, from 31 December 2020, all ships of 500 GT and above – regardless of the flag they are flying – will be required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) when calling a port or anchorage of a country that is a member of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA).
To remind, the European Union’s Ship Recycling Regulations (EUSRR) that came into force in December 2018 pose certain obligations to all ships of 500 gross tonnage (GT) and above, flying the flag of countries in the EU or EEA, with certain exceptions such as warships, naval auxiliary or other ships on non-commercial service.
A requirement included applies to not only ships flying the flag of countries in the EU or EEA but also to all ships of 500 GT and above, regardless of the flag they are flying, when calling a port or anchorage of a country that is a member of the EU or EEA.
As stated above, by December 31, 2020, all such ships should carry an inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) that is compliant with EUSRR, and for ships flying a flag of country outside the EU/EEA region, this must be accompanied by a statement of compliance from the flag state.
BIMCO states that port state control officers will be responsible for the certificate and the quality of the IHM and in case of non-compliance, ships may be warned, detained, dismissed or excluded from the ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of a member state.
For already existent vessels, the IHM will be based on visual and sampling checks and include the approximate quantity and location of a number of specified hazardous materials on board.
It is added that although the IHM can be produced by own resources of a shipowner, there are also IHM service providers including classification societies, which already offer such services.
When external companies are used, visual and sampling checks require IHM service providers to board each ship. Experience has shown that the whole process may take three months or longer, depending on the size and construction of the ship and how the desktop review has been prepared by the shipowner.
It is therefore recommended that owners and operators of existing ships, who trade in EU and EEA countries, plan well in advance to comply with EUSRR IHM requirements by the 31 December 2020 deadline.
In the meantime, BIMCO highlights that due to the restrictions because of COVID-19 pandemic, possibilities of having IHM service providers and surveyors on board is limited.
While, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) provides the following guidance about IHM surveys: “The initial desktop review may be performed remotely and followed up by onboard verification at a later date, subject to flag administration’s approval.”
