The Government of India informed that the “Recycling of Ships” Bill has become an Act, with the government setting specific international standards and implementing a statutory mechanism for enforcement of such standards.
Specifically, the ill became an Act after it received the green light of President of India on 13th December, 2019.
The Government aims set certain global standards and the statutory mechanism for enforcement of such standards. This follows India’s addition to the Hong Kong Convention in 2019.
The Act imposes a duty on ship recyclers to make sure that the procedure of ship recycling is safe and environmentally friendly.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
The Recycling of Ships Act 2019 restricts and prohibits the use or installation of hazardous materials, which applies irrespective of whether a ship is meant for recycling or not. Also, concerning new ships, such restriction or prohibition on use of hazardous materials will be immediate, that is, from the date the legislation comes into force, while existing ships shall have a period of five years for compliance.
Restriction or prohibition on use of hazardous materials would not be applied to warships and non-commercial ships operated by Government. Ships shall be surveyed and certified on the inventory of hazardous materials used in ships
In line with this Act, it is stated that ship recycling facilities are required to be authorized and ships shall be recycled only in such authorized ship recycling facilities.
Moreover, the Act also states that ships shall be recycled according to a ship-specific recycling plan.
Ships to be recycled in India shall be required to obtain a Ready for Recycling Certificate in accordance with the HKC.
The Government issued specific penal provisions along with the Act to discourage any potential violation of statutory provisions.
