Ship Recycling Experts Gather in Tokyo

Top ship recycling experts from around the globe gathered in Tokyo on December 10 at the ClassNK Ship Recycling Seminar to discuss the latest updates to the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU Regulation), the classification society announced. Members from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the EU Directorate-General, and the International Chamber of Shipping together with approximately 220 other maritime professionals and policy makers attended the event hosted by leading ship classification society ClassNK.

 

Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Akihiro Ota opened the event with a keynote speech discussing in detail the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) and the EU Regulation which went into effect in December 2013.

 

Emilien Gasc, Policy Officer in the Directorate General for the Environment of the European Commission, joined the seminar via video call to speak on the latest EU developments saying, “Seminars like this are extremely important. At the core of the EU Regulation is the Hong Kong Convention. At present, we have received roughly 40 comments surrounding the EU Regulation Guidance document and we are in the process of considering each one carefully.”

 

International Chamber of Shipping Manager (Environment and Trade) John Stawpert said, "To create safe and environmentally friendly ship recycling practices, it is essential for shipowners and other stakeholders to take responsibility and fulfill their duties in accordance with the Hong Kong Convention requirements to the best of their abilities. The EU Regulation is largely based on the already internationally recognized Hong Kong Convention, but follow-up guidance has the potential to differ significantly. Shipowners, cash buyers and ship recyclers should work towards compliance and states must drive towards ratification of the Hong Kong Convention.”

 

Wilhelmsen Ship Management Sdn. Bhd. Head of Lay-up, Green Recycling and IHM Services Rakesh Bhargava discussed the necessary Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) under the EU Regulation. DSIC Marine Services Co. Ltd. and DSIC Ship Recycling Co. Ltd. Vice General Manager Shang Hong along with GSR Services GmbH CEO Henning Gramann spoke on proper ship recycling facilities. All three speakers are leaders in their respective fields and demonstrated their continued efforts towards establishing new ship recycling regulations.

 

ClassNK Operating Officer and Team Leader of the Ship Recycling Team Takano Hirofumi spoke about what ClassNK is doing to support safer and greener ship recycling such as the IHM creation software offered by ClassNK and how it is quickly becoming the de facto standard worldwide being utilized by over 2,200 companies. In addition, ClassNK has certified five ship recycling yards that have upgraded their facilities to be in line with the Hong Kong Convention.