The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) is set to become a transformative force in the global maritime industry, highlights Rohith Agarwal, Managing Partner at GUIDESHIP CONSULTING SERVICES LLP.
Adopted on May 15, 2009, under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the HKC will officially enter into force on June 26, 2025. This convention represents a significant leap forward in ensuring that ships, at the end of their operational lives, are recycled without posing unnecessary risks to human health or the environment.
Guideship Consulting Services fully supports the HKC, recognizing its potential to standardize and elevate ship recycling practices worldwide. Historically, these practices have varied widely across regions, often leading to unsafe and environmentally harmful conditions, particularly in developing countries where many recycling yards are located. The HKC aims to address these disparities by establishing clear, globally recognized guidelines that promote safety and environmental protection.
With the HKC’s enforcement, ship owners will be required to comply with its regulations, which will not only enhance safety but also bolster their reputations for sustainability. The convention is expected to influence the recycling of approximately 15,000 ships over the next decade, marking a substantial shift in industry practices.
Support for the HKC is strong among key industry stakeholders, including the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) and the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA). Countries represented by ECSA, such as Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, have all endorsed the HKC as the definitive regulatory framework for ship recycling. Major ship recycling states like India, Bangladesh, and Turkey have expressed their commitment to implementing HKC standards. These countries, where a significant portion of global ship recycling occurs, recognize the importance of aligning their practices with international norms to ensure safer and more environmentally responsible recycling processes. This unified stance is crucial for ensuring that ship recycling practices are safe, environmentally sound, and equitable across the globe.
The German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) and the Danish Shipowners’ Association (Danske Rederier) emphasize the need for a level playing field and responsible recycling practices. Similarly, the French Shipowners’ Association (Armateurs de France) and the UK Chamber of Shipping support the HKC as a means to avoid fragmented regulations and promote international shipping operations.
The HKC’s global adoption will help level the playing field for all industry players, regardless of size or geography, by creating uniform regulations that foster high standards across all ship recycling nations. This standardization is crucial for smaller nations and newer players, who often struggle to meet the diverse regulations imposed by different countries.
As industry stakeholders, including shipowners and recycling facilities, prepare for the HKC’s implementation, ongoing collaboration with governments and non-governmental organizations will be essential to realizing the convention’s full potential. The HKC represents a significant step towards safer, more sustainable ship recycling practices that benefit workers, the environment, and the global maritime community.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
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