The Hong Kong Convention is closer to coming into force

The International Maritime Organization reports on its website that the Marshal Islands has become a party to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (the Hong Kong Convention) which is available on the following link, i.e., https://okello.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/wcms_154921.pdf. The Hong Kong Convention will come into force on 26 June, 2025.

The Hong Kong Convention outlines regulations and requirements for ship recycling, including controls on hazardous materials, inventory of hazardous materials, ship recycling plans, surveys and certification for ships, and requirements for ship recycling facilities.

The Hong Kong Convention emphasizes the need for safe and environmentally sound practices in ship recycling, noting the importance of preventing, reducing, and minimizing accidents, injuries, and adverse effects on human health and the environment caused by ship recycling. It also addresses the responsibilities of parties to the Hong Kong Convention, the process for proposing amendments, issuance and endorsement of certificates, and controls on ship recycling facilities.

The Hong Kong Convention aims to establish standards and procedures to ensure the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, taking into account the health and safety of workers and the impact on the environment. It also provides a framework for the authorization and regulation of ship recycling facilities by the competent authorities of the concerned parties.

Since the Hong Kong Convention is a convention that tries to protect the environment and the health of humans, it is important that the same is globally accepted for its uniform application.