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Ship recycling
Member states endorse Hong Kong Convention
Source: Europolitics
By Anne Eckstein
Nearly 25% of the world’s merchant fleet sails under an EU member state flag and about 40% are owned by European companies. The European Union should therefore, note the EU environment ministers, play a major role in ship dismantling and recycling. In conclusions (1) adopted on 21 October in Luxembourg, the Environment Council welcomes the strategy on ship dismantling and the possibilities of action proposed by the European Commission. The conclusions take note of and endorse the Ship Recycling Convention adopted last May by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and invite the EU member states to ratify it without delay. The ministers also invite the Commission to identify additional measures for implementing the convention in the Union.
The Council notes that a Community ship recycling strategy must aim to ensure that all ships, including those linked to the EU, are recycled in safe and environmentally sound facilities worldwide. The Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling, adopted in May 2009 (see box), constitutes a major step forward in this respect. It represents a flexible regulatory framework that can be adapted to specific local situations. The Council also takes note of the work conducted in the IMO for the adoption of guidelines for the development of the inventory of hazardous materials and their handling: it calls for an acceleration of this work, which is indispensable for global, effective and harmonised implementation of the Hong Kong Convention. The ministers add that an effort will be needed to build the technical and administrative capacities of the developing countries. CONTINUING CLOSE COLLABORATIONThe Council also stresses continuing close collaboration between the EU and all competent organisations: the IMO and the Hong Kong Convention, the Basel Convention on the transfer of hazardous waste, and the International Labour Organisation.
At internal level, the Council invites the Commission to make quick progress to ensure implementation of the measures identified in the strategy to improve worldwide practices of ship recycling and to ensure that all proposals are fully assessed in relation to their economic (costs-benefits), social and environmental costs, taking into account the impacts of the global economic recession and the competitiveness of the EU fleet.
Background
The Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling concerns the design, construction, operations and preparation of ships with a view to facilitating recycling without endangering the safety and effectiveness of ships and in such a way as to ensure dismantling under safe and environmentally acceptable conditions. It lays down a framework for the recycling of ships that includes certification and reporting requirements. Every ship sent for recycling must carry an inventory of hazardous materials. An annex to the convention provides a list of dangerous substances whose installation or use is prohibited or restricted in ships, shipyards or ship repair yards. All ships must have an initial survey to verify the inventory of hazardous materials, additional surveys during the life of the ship and a final survey prior to recycling. Recycling yards will have to present a ship recycling plan specifying how each ship will be recycled depending on its particulars.
The convention, signed in Hong Kong on 11 May 2009, has been open to ratification since 1 September 2009. It will enter into force 24 months after the deposit with the IMO Secretariat of the instruments of ratification of at least 15 states representing 40% of the world’s gross tonnage of merchant ships.
Member states endorse Hong Kong Convention
Source: Europolitics
By Anne Eckstein
Nearly 25% of the world’s merchant fleet sails under an EU member state flag and about 40% are owned by European companies. The European Union should therefore, note the EU environment ministers, play a major role in ship dismantling and recycling. In conclusions (1) adopted on 21 October in Luxembourg, the Environment Council welcomes the strategy on ship dismantling and the possibilities of action proposed by the European Commission. The conclusions take note of and endorse the Ship Recycling Convention adopted last May by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and invite the EU member states to ratify it without delay. The ministers also invite the Commission to identify additional measures for implementing the convention in the Union.
The Council notes that a Community ship recycling strategy must aim to ensure that all ships, including those linked to the EU, are recycled in safe and environmentally sound facilities worldwide. The Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling, adopted in May 2009 (see box), constitutes a major step forward in this respect. It represents a flexible regulatory framework that can be adapted to specific local situations. The Council also takes note of the work conducted in the IMO for the adoption of guidelines for the development of the inventory of hazardous materials and their handling: it calls for an acceleration of this work, which is indispensable for global, effective and harmonised implementation of the Hong Kong Convention. The ministers add that an effort will be needed to build the technical and administrative capacities of the developing countries. CONTINUING CLOSE COLLABORATIONThe Council also stresses continuing close collaboration between the EU and all competent organisations: the IMO and the Hong Kong Convention, the Basel Convention on the transfer of hazardous waste, and the International Labour Organisation.
At internal level, the Council invites the Commission to make quick progress to ensure implementation of the measures identified in the strategy to improve worldwide practices of ship recycling and to ensure that all proposals are fully assessed in relation to their economic (costs-benefits), social and environmental costs, taking into account the impacts of the global economic recession and the competitiveness of the EU fleet.
Background
The Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling concerns the design, construction, operations and preparation of ships with a view to facilitating recycling without endangering the safety and effectiveness of ships and in such a way as to ensure dismantling under safe and environmentally acceptable conditions. It lays down a framework for the recycling of ships that includes certification and reporting requirements. Every ship sent for recycling must carry an inventory of hazardous materials. An annex to the convention provides a list of dangerous substances whose installation or use is prohibited or restricted in ships, shipyards or ship repair yards. All ships must have an initial survey to verify the inventory of hazardous materials, additional surveys during the life of the ship and a final survey prior to recycling. Recycling yards will have to present a ship recycling plan specifying how each ship will be recycled depending on its particulars.
The convention, signed in Hong Kong on 11 May 2009, has been open to ratification since 1 September 2009. It will enter into force 24 months after the deposit with the IMO Secretariat of the instruments of ratification of at least 15 states representing 40% of the world’s gross tonnage of merchant ships.
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