The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships was adopted in May 2009. It aims to ensure that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.

The convention intends to address all the issues around ship recycling, including the fact that ships sold for scrapping may contain environmentally hazardous substances such as asbestos, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, ozone-depleting substances and others.

Ships to be sent for recycling will be required to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), which will be unique for each ship and consists of these three parts: an appendix to the convention will provide a list of hazardous materials, the installation or use of which is prohibited or restricted in shipyards, ship repair yards, and ships of parties to the convention. Ships will be required to have an initial survey to verify the IHM, additional surveys during the life of the ship, and a final survey prior to recycling.

Why choose Environmental Protection Engineering (EPE)?

EPE’s deep expertise, profound reputation and stable values guarantee the quality of the cooperation and the delived product. EPE has a proven record in assisting companies preparing the IHM and at competitive prices. For more than two decates the company has been active in the sector of hazardous waste management and asbestos removal. Finally, EPE also has a breadth of capabilities and an international reach and presence (that few others can match). The service we provide is broken down into the following steps:

1. Collection of information

We collect all the relevant information from the shipowner (documentation, plans, manuals, etc.), shipyard, manufacturers, classification society.

2. Analysis and definition of scope of investigations

Based on collected information, all equipment, systems and/or areas onboard assumed to contain hazardous materials are listed in the checklist Table A and Table B (Appendix I of MEPC 57/ WP.7). Each equipment, system and/or area onboard is analysed and judged whether it contains hazardous materials or not.

3. Preparation of visual / sampling check plan

We prepare a plan so every item of the previous step can be checked off visually by sampling depending on its classification (‘contained’, ‘not contained’, ‘unknown’, etc.) in step 2.

4. Sending visual / sampling check plan for approval

We send the plan to the register for approval.

5. Approval / amendment of visual / sampling check plan (VSCP)

The plan is approved or amended by a register.

6. Performance of the onboard visual / sampling check

The procedure is conducted according to the approved VSCP (no 5). We visit the vessel (onboard or dry docking period) and we make the sampling. All samples are sent to registered laboratories (ISO 17025) for analysis and the results are recorded in the prepared VSCP.

7. Preparation of IHM Part I and related documentation

When all the items containing hazardous materials are identified through the check, the approximate quantity of it is estimated.

8. Delivery of IHM Part I

After the preparation of the IHM Part I it is checked and certified from the register in order to be delivered to you.