June 26 marks the start of new requirements for recycling ships, under the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

Developed under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Convention mandates that ships at the end of their operational lives must be recycled in a safe and environmentally sustainable way.

It covers design, construction, operation and preparation of ships to support safe and environmentally sound recycling;  the operation of ship recycling facilities; and appropriate enforcement mechanisms, including survey, authorization, certification, inspection and reporting requirements. 

Most ships are recycled when they are taken out of operation, with almost all materials and equipment from the ship being re-used or recycled. The Hong Kong Convention addresses key environmental, occupational health, and safety risks involved in the recycling of ships, while distributing responsibilities and obligations across relevant stakeholders — shipowners, ship building yards, ship recycling facilities, flag states, port states and recycling states. 

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Among other measures, the Convention prohibits or restricts the installation or use of hazardous materials on ships, such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, ozone-depleting substances, and anti-fouling compounds and systems containing organotin compounds or cybutryne. It also requires detailed inventories of hazardous materials;  

To support developing countries, IMO has organized various workshops on ship recycling to raise awareness of the Convention internationally. In addition, IMO says it has been actively working with countries to help build their capacity and establish the conditions that will enable them to ratify and effectively implement the Convention. 

This includes the ongoing project on Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling (SENSREC Project), established with financial support from the Government of Norway. The project provides comprehensive support to countries, ranging from policy alignment, creation of institutional mechanisms and governance systems, to capacity development related to sustainable technical, social and environmental practices.