- Lloyd’s Register has introduced a new webinar series to help shipowners and recycling facilities understand and meet the requirements of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), which entered into force on 26 June 2025.
- The HKC mandates certified Inventories of Hazardous Materials (IHM), final recycling surveys, and approved recycling plans for all ships.
- LR offers comprehensive services from IHM certification to shipyard authorisation and end-of-life advisory support.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has rolled out a targeted webinar programme to help shipowners, operators, and recycling facilities comply with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), which came into force on 26 June 2025. Announced through Class News 11/2025, the initiative is designed to simplify the complex regulatory requirements of the convention.
The HKC, adopted by the IMO in 2009, aims to minimise risks to human health and the environment by regulating ship recycling practices. It requires shipowners to maintain a certified Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) throughout the ship’s operational life. For vessels delivered after June 2025, IHM certification will be mandatory upon delivery. Existing ships must comply at their next harmonised renewal survey, no later than 26 June 2030. Before recycling, a final survey is required at an authorised facility located in a HKC signatory country, along with the preparation of a tailored ship-specific recycling plan.
Coordinating Global and Regional Compliance
The HKC’s global framework now operates alongside established regimes like the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) and the Basel Convention (BC), all of which impose obligations on vessels at end-of-life. This makes cross-regulatory coordination crucial. LR’s webinar series clarifies overlapping requirements and offers practical guidance on three main aspects of the HKC:
- Maintaining a certified Inventory of Hazardous Materials
- Conducting the final survey and obtaining the International Ready for Recycling Certificate
- Ensuring ship recycling yards meet certification standards under the HKC
The programme addresses pressing implementation timelines, emphasizing that HKC rules apply immediately to recycling activities as of 26 June 2025, regardless of when contracts were signed. Stakeholders are guided through various compliance scenarios to ensure full awareness of responsibilities and risk mitigation.
Full-Spectrum Services for HKC and EU SRR Compliance
To support industry-wide adaptation, LR offers a range of statutory and advisory services. These include IHM certification for HKC and EU SRR compliance, issuance of Ready for Recycling Certificates, and support for the authorisation of recycling facilities under HKC guidelines.
Beyond regulatory certification, LR also provides tailored advisory services to encourage best practices, such as its ‘Audit During Recycling’ (ADR) programme for third-party due diligence throughout the recycling process. Other services include strategic end-of-life planning, ship recycling yard selection support, and commercial and technical feasibility studies.
Jennifer Riley-James, Lead Regulatory Specialist, Lloyd’s Register, said:
“The Hong Kong Convention is a significant moment for global ship recycling standards, and the maritime industry needs expert guidance to navigate this complex new landscape. This webinar series delivers the practical knowledge and regulatory insight that ship owners, operators and recycling facilities require to achieve full compliance while maintaining operational efficiency.”
LR’s Longstanding Leadership in Ship Recycling
Lloyd’s Register is a recognised leader in IHM certification and ship recycling policy development. With over 15 years of experience advising on ship recycling projects in countries including China, Turkey, and India, and as a representative of IACS at the IMO, LR continues to play a key role in shaping the future of responsible ship recycling globally.
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Source: Lloyd’s Register
