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.
ClassNK issued a Statement of Compliance (SoC) concerning a ship recycling facility in Chattogram, Bangladesh to confirm that the shipbreaking facility is compliant with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (HKC).
During the second SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum, Mrs. Ina Lutchmiah, Specialist Counsel (Solicitor, England & Wales), Wikborg Rein Singapore Pte Ltd opened the second panel by sharing key challenges with respect to the regulatory framework for transboundary movements for recycling. Touching upon the Hong Kong Convention and the Basel Convention, she moved forward by presenting compliance challenges and legal implications associated with transboundary movements for recycling originating from the EU and outside the EU.
During the second SAFETY4SEA Singapore Forum, Rakesh Bhargava, Director at Sea Sentinels, examined the ‘IHM and its Maintenance,’ underlining that the preparation of IHMs are crucial for green ship recycling. Mr. Bhargava stressed potential problems, considering the mounting pressures on shipowners, surveyors and the capacity of those tasked, emphasizing on the importance of the IHM for recyclers.
It was on Thursday, December 5 when the Basel Ban Amendment, adopted by the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous and Their Disposal in 1995, became international law.
The ship breaking activity in developing countries, such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, has been subject to criticism because of the negative impacts the industry has on the environment and workers. Now, a report by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai found that there has been little improvements in the shipbreaking yards with regards to working conditions. It also presents several breaches of the national legal framework.
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.
