Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling enters into force

The Hong Kong Convention addresses environmental, occupational health, and safety risks involved in the recycling of ships, while distributing responsibilities and obligations across relevant stakeholders including shipowners, ship building yards, ship recycling facilities, flag states, port states and recycling states.

Among other measures, the convention: prohibits or restricts the installation or use of hazardous materials on ships, such as asbestos; requires detailed inventories of hazardous materials; outlines requirements for ship recycling facility operations, including working conditions at ship recycling yards; and sets out mechanisms for certification, compliance and enforcement.