As ship recycling standards have increased across the sub continent, tanker owners need to adapt to the stricter requirements for cleaning vessels for hot works prior recycling, GMS has suggested.
In particular, the company notes that the number of fatal accidents aboard vessels, that were not cleaned thoroughly, earlier this year, should serve as a serious wake up call to tanker owners that their vessels must be totally cleaned of all cargo residues, slops and sludges in all cargo and slop tanks, in order to mitigate risks of an accident at recycling yards.
“Regrettably, we have noticed a few ship-owners are shying away from such an important and fundamental responsibility. This is a dangerous precedent that must stop immediately,” GMS explains.
The company advises that every effort should be made to prevent a repeat of the accidents witnessed in Pakistan that led to loss of life, enforced closure of recycling markets, created negative publicity, reduced resale options, which ultimately resulted in lowering prices for all wet units across the board.
As a result, GMS has developed the industry’s first guidelines for cleaning tankers for hot works prior delivery to recycling yards. These guidelines go above and beyond the routine requirements of gas freeing.
“We request owners to go the extra mile so that lives can be saved and safety standards further enhanced across a rapidly developing ship recycling sector.”
