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.
IMO’s treaty on ship recycling has another push, as Japan is the 10th country to become a Party to the Hong Kong Convention. H.E. Mr. Koji Tsuruoka, Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London on March 27, to deposit the instrument of accession.
After decades of sailing the seas it comes a time when ships are recycled at the end of their life. The vessel is dismantled, and steel and other valuable materials are recycled. It is the most responsible way of disposing a vessel, since almost every part of the ship is reused, Teekay supports.
The Netherlands has become the eighth country to ratify the Hong Kong Convention, the treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling, IMO announced. Mr. Dick Brus, Directorate for Maritime Affairs of the Netherlands, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, in London, on 20 February, to deposit the instrument of acceptance.
At the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit last October, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative sat down with industry leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities in shipping, explains Mr. Andrew Stephens, Executive Director, SSI and Nicole Rencoret, Head of Communications and Development, SSI.
