Marshall Islands inks deal on safe recycling of ships
MARSHALL Islands has become a party to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (Hong Kong Convention).
Nicholas Makar, Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, Republic of the Marshall Islands, deposited the instrument of accession with IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez at IMO Headquarters in London this month.
The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (the Hong Kong Convention) is expected to enter into force on June 26, 2025.
The Hong Kong Convention was adopted at a diplomatic conference held in Hong Kong, China, in 2009.
It is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety and to the environment.
It embraces the cradle to grave concept, addressing all environmental and safety aspects relating to ship recycling, including the responsible management and disposal of associated waste streams in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
The convention places responsibilities and obligations on all parties concerned — including shipowners, ship building yards, ship recycling facilities, flag states, port states, and recycling states.
Upon entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention, ships to be sent for recycling will be required to carry on board an inventory of hazardous materials.
Ship recycling facilities authorised by competent authorities will be required to provide a ship recycling plan, specific to each individual vessel to be recycled.
Additionally, Governments will be required to ensure that recycling facilities under their jurisdiction comply with the convention.
The Hong Kong Convention now has the following contracting parties: Bangladesh, Belgium, Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Spain, and Türkiye.