- Croatia has become the latest country to accede to the IMO’s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling, the Hong Kong Convention.
- Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship.
Croatia is the latest country to accede to IMO’s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling – the Hong Kong Convention, reads an IMO news release.
Ship recycling requirements
The convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships.
Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards are required to provide a ship recycling plan, specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory.
Merchant shipping tonnage
Sixteen countries that joined the treaty so far include Belgium, Congo, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Japan, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Serbia, Turkey.
According to the IMO, the sixteen contracting states to the convention now represent approximately 29.58% of the world’s merchant shipping tonnage.
The convention’s entry into force is expected 24 months after ratification by 15 states, representing 40% of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage, combined maximum annual ship recycling volume not less than 3% of their combined tonnage.
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Source: IMO
