Tag: IHM

The European Union (EU) has given some support on the obligations under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation to have the IHM on board by the 31st December 2020. 

In ligh of the Brexit period, which is about to end on 31 December 2020, Standard Club noted that EU member states may require UK ships which are subject to EU Port State Control, to carry a SoC onboard.

In an effort to help shipowners and operators better prepare for the upcoming deadline of IHM compliance, Lloyd's Register issued frequently asked questions around the EU SRR regulation.

On October 20, 2020, the European Commission (EC) has issued guidelines on the enforcement of obligations under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation relating to the Inventory of Hazardous Materials of vessels operating in European waters (2020/C 349/01) acknowledging reports from industry stakeholders that COVID-19 restrictions have led to significant difficulties in surveying ships and producing certified IHMs. 

The COVID-19 pandemic affects the industry's efforts to implement the European Union’s Ship Recycling Regulations (EUSRR) and many shipowners may not be able to finalize the required Inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) prior to the deadline.

Major shipping associations jointly developed guidelines on preparation of Inventory of Hazardous Materials, as required by the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. The regulation requires all EU-flagged vessels and non EU-flagged vessels calling at any EU member state to have an IHM onboard, from 31 December 2020, and no extensions on this deadline are awaited. 

2020 will see several regulatory changes, with the main on being the IMO 2020 sulphur cap. However, in addition to the sulphur cap regulation, numerous other regulations will also be implemented worldwide by the IMO and ILO over the course of the year.

Part I of the IHM shall remain with a vessel throughout its operational life, and be updated as all new installations enter the ship, as these may potentially contain hazards. The presence of the inventory will then ensure the safety of crew members during the vessel's operational life.

Liberia Maritime Authority issued practical guidance to shipping on the development and maintenance of inventories of hazardous materials (IHM), in line with Regulation 5 of the Hong Kong Convention and Article 12 of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). 

The entry into force of the sulphur cap in the beginning of 2020 is – and will be – the highlight of the year. However, at the end of 2020, ships must comply with another very important requirement. Specifically, starting from 31 December 2020, ships above 500 GT and flying the flag of an EU/EEA member state, or third-party flagged vessels calling at European ports, must carry an Inventory Hazardous Materials (IHM) certificate on board. To shed light on this matter, DNV GL hosted a webinar, providing more information about the subject.