Recycling of
Ships Getting
Environmentally
Sound
Photo: Risto Valkeapää
FREJ MATTSSON, DNV:
In shipbuilding and the shipping world
there is a large shift towards better regulation on hazardous materials and environmentally sound way of recycling.
“I
n order to manage the process from
new building to recycling there will
be – for each ship to be built – a document worked out, called Inventory of
Hazardous Materials (IHM),” Principal Surveyor Mr. Frej Mattsson from Det Norske
Veritas says.
“This document will follow the vessel from the new building yard to the recycling yard. International Maritime Organization (IMO) has formed the guidelines of
this renewal which will take effect in the
coming years. As a conclusion, it may, as
IMO FORMED GUIDELINES
tion, for example, on the design, construc-
an advice, be wise for all involved in the
Since 2001, there have been published
tion, operation and preparation of ships
shipping industry to start to plan for the
guidelines concerning ship recycling. IMO
so as to facilitate safe and environmental-
work in connection with their particular
published in March 2004 the “Guideline
ly sound recycling without compromising
interests.”
on Ship Recycling.” This is now an IMO
safety and operational efficiency of ships.
Ship recycling, or scrapping as has
Convention with the name “International
Regulations mean the operation of
been the more common term, has not
Convention for the Safe and Environmen-
ship recycling facilities in a safe and envi-
been widely regulated. However, the Basel
tally Sound Recycling of Ships” and was
ronmentally manner.
Convention generally prohibits its OECD
adopted on May 2009 by 63 member del-
Regulations join also to the estab-
member states from exporting harmful
egates. It was agreed that it will come into
lishment of an appropriate enforcement
waste to non-OECD countries.
force 24 months after the entry-into-force
mechanism for ship recycling, incorporate
conditions were met.
certification and reporting requirements.
“Some administrations, e.g. Finland,
interpret this as also being a prohibita-
Mainly, these conditions are met
The objectives for the Convention are
tion against selling ships for demolition
when 15 member states, of which the
first to give guidance to “best practice” in
to countries without first removing harm-
combined merchant fleet is not less than
ship recycling process throughout the life
ful and hazardous substances and materi-
40 % of the world’s fleet, have ratified
cycle of the ship. The second objective is
als. We had recently a related case in Fin-
the convention.
significantly minimise the use of hazard-
land,” Mr. Mattsson notes.
48
seatec 1/2010
This Convention will provide regula-
ous materials and identify those materi-