Answer
Ans- The Hong kong international convention for safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships,2009 – aims to ensure that ships when being recycled at the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health, safety and to the environment.
HKC focusses on cradle to grave.
Present status- EIF criteria fulfilled on 25 June 2023 with Bangladesh and Liberia ratifying the convention. It will enter into force 2 years after fulfillment of criteria i.e 26 June 2025.
New ships- built on or after 26 june 2025- need to undergo Initial survey and issued ICIHM after verification of IHM Part 1.
Old ships- built before 26 june 2025 – they will get 5 years after EIF to prepare their IHM Part-1 and get ICI HM after initial survey.
Ship Recycling-
• Contract between shipowner and ship recycling facility
• Initial notice – Flag state and Ship recycling state
• Shipowner will prepare IHM Part-1,2,3 and send copy to SRF. As per that SRF will prepare Ship recycling
plan(SRP) which will be ship specific. Same to be get approved by Ship recycling state.
• Once SRP is approved- Flag state will carry out Final survey of vessel
They will verify IHM-1,2,3
Verify SRP and DASR( Document of authorization for Ship Recycling)
Flag state will issue International Ready for recycling certificate which will be valid for 3 months from issuance- vessel need to go to SRF within that period.
• SRF will report on planned start of ship recycling and issue 2nd notice to Ship recycling state along with copy
of IRRC .
• Ship recycling starts in SRF.
• On completion, will issue statement of completion- Original to Competent Authority of Ship recycling state
and a copy to Flag state of vessel after which they can complete deletion of registry of vessel.
Significance of Bangladesh and Liberia-
Both countries deposited Instrument of accession.
EIF criteria included to conditions
1-Should be ratified by 15 states- representing 40% of world tonnage registered among them- So Liberia is a major ship registry .Liberias ratification helped to achieve this criteria
2- Combined recycling volume of these states during preceding 10 years should not be less than 3% of their combined shipping tonnage. Bangladesh ratification helped to achieve this criteria