INGENIEUR
In accordance to the Basel Convention , ESM is defined as : “ Environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and other wastes ” according to Article 2 , paragraph 8 means “ taking all practical steps to ensure that hazardous wastes or other wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes ”.
Preparations on the ship
There are some preparatory procedures that should be implemented on the vessel prior to its voyage for dismantling :
● Preparation of an inventory list of on board hazardous / polluting wastes - An inventory survey of the vessel should be carried out where the types of hazardous wastes and other wastes on board are identified , quantified and located . A thorough vessel survey can also be applied for the purpose of planning the sequence and nature of the work to be executed .
● Removal / cleaning – liquids , including fuels and oils ; Hazardous wastes and materials such as asbestos , polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs ) and tributyltin ( TBT ) paints should , to the extent possible , be removed in best available facilities from the ship during its life cycle prior to its voyage for dismantling so that a minimal amount of this material will have to be dealt with during the breaking process . Prior to cutting , the ship should be cleared of all residual materials . This may be carried out prior to arrival or at a cleaning station at the facility . Cargo tanks , bunker and fuel tanks , bilge and ballast compartments , sewage tanks , etc . should be cleaned in order to ensure that when the ship is presented for dismantling it is in a clean and safe condition . This process will continue during the entire dismantling process .
● Securing - To ensure that working procedures and operations are undertaken in a safe manner , a process of securing the vessel is required . There are especially two aspects that should be emphasised ; i ) Safe access to all areas , compartments , tanks , etc . ensuring breathable atmospheres , ii ) Safe conditions for hot work , including cleaning / venting , removal of toxic or highly flammable paints from areas to be cut , and testing / monitoring before any hot work is performed .
● Removal of equipment - Consumable and loose equipment are removed first . Reusable components are removed as they become accessible . Fixtures , anchors , chains , engine parts and propellers are examples of components that are removed during this step .
Environmental Management Plan
The successful establishment of an ESM for a shipdismantling facility requires the establishment of an Environmental Management Plan ( EMP ). This includes the initial step of assessing the potential environmental impacts from the facility by performing an Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ). The EIA helps to identify the environmental aspects and the environmental goals to be set for the facility , and serves as an input to the Environmental Management System ( EMS ).
The EMP would be an all-encompassing document covering all environmental issues at a macro scale :
● the assessment of potential impacts ( EIA ),
● the formulation of potential preventative measures ( Inventory of Best Practices ), and
● an environmental management system ( EMS ), including : waste management plan ( WMP ), contingency preparedness plan ( CPP ) and monitoring plan ( MP ).
Environmentally Sound Management of priority waste streams : end-of-life Ships
End-of-life ships comprise an array of hazardous materials – such as asbestos , PCBs and waste oils – which can have serious implications for the environment and human health if not managed properly .
68 VOL 83 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020