The Indian Union Cabinet approved the proposal of entering to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, being the 14th country to join the convention, following the most recent member, Germany.
Lately the shipping industry has shed its focus on the 2020 sulphur cap, however, other important regulatory updates are expected to become effective from January 1st as well; for instance in the area of ship recycling, the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) is going to bring changes for which operators need to be aware of for compliance with the requirements of both Hong Kong Convention and EU-Ship Recycling Regulation.
During the last SAFETY4SEA Hamburg Forum, Gunther Zeitzmann, Ship Recycling Engineer and member of the International HazMat Association (IHMA), highlighted the importance of preparation, certification and maintenance of an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) for compliance with the requirements of Hong Kong Convention and EU-Ship Recycling Regulation. He further referred to key steps for effective development of IHM and certification; the operations and maintenance of the IHM and the importance of control with flags, classes and PSC.
Classification Society ClassNK has released its “Guidelines for the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (Ver.4.00), the development of which will be required for ships over 500GT after the Hong Kong Convention enters into force.
Germany is the latest newly-added member in IMO’s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling – the Hong Kong Convention. Mr. Reinhard Klingen, Director-General Waterways and Shipping in the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure of Germany, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London, 16 July, to deposit the instrument of accession.
North P&I Club describes the new European Union regulations that mandate vessels flying the flag of an EU state can only be scrapped in approved ship-recycling facilities. Outside the EU, some countries have already signed the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which apply 24 months after it is fully ratified.
The Asian Shipowners’ Association urged China and India to ratify the Hong Kong Convention on recycling. Namely, during its general meeting in Thailand on May 28, the association explained only by ratifying the Convention will an environmentally-sound recycling of ships take place worldwide.
It seems that lately the all-consuming, requirements of 2020 sulphur cap are somehow overshadowing those of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) which are crucial for ensuring green and sustainable shipping as well, in the ship recycling field though. IHM is one of the most important documents in planning the recycling process of a ship.
As IMO informed, Malta became the latest country to accede to IMO’s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling, namely the Hong Kong Convention. H.E. Victor Camilleri, Permanent Representative of Malta to IMO deposited the instrument of accession. Twelve contracting States party to the Convention now represent more than 28.8% of world merchant shipping tonnage.
Ten years after the adoption of IMO’s Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, in May 2009, there has been progress with voluntary application of its requirements, but the treaty needs to enter into force for it to be widely implemented. For this reason, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim urged Member States who have not yet ratified the Convention, to do so, in order to bring it into force as soon as possible.
