IMO has announced a fifth state has acceded to the Hong Kong Convention: Panama. Although IMO is pleased with this development, ratification requires at least another ten states to join.
The Hong Kong Convention covers the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships so as to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships.
Hong Kong Convention
Upon entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention, ships to be sent for recycling will be required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, which will be specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards will be required to provide a "Ship Recycling Plan", specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory. Parties will be required to take effective measures to ensure that ship recycling facilities under their jurisdiction comply with the Convention.
Ratification Still Long Way off
The Hong Kong Convention will enter into force 24 months after the date on which 15 States, representing 40 per cent of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage, have either signed it or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary-General.
Furthermore, the combined maximum annual ship recycling volume of those States must, during the preceding ten years, constitute not less than 3 per cent of their combined merchant shipping tonnage.
This means that despite Panama's accession, ratification is still a long way off. The other four countries that have ratified IMO's Convention are Belgium, Congo, France and Norway.
Picture: Today, a lot of ships are still taken apart on the beaches of South-East Asia (here Chittagong in Bangladesh), with considerable risks for both workers and the environment. The Hong Kong Convention seeks to end these practices (picture by Taisirrahman).
