Two classification
societies combine their efforts to bring about early implementation of the Hong
Kong ship recycling convention and help stake holders to comply with the
regulations
ClassNK
joined hands with Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) to bring into focus the
Hong Kong convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships
which was been adopted on 15th May 2009. In order to show the way forward
ClassNK is conducting seminars for the benefit of all concerned stakeholders
including ship owners, ship recyclers, brokers, ship managers, ship builders,
etc., in order to prepare them for an easy transition to the new system when it
comes into force since they would be expected to comply with various new
regulations.
In
the first such seminar held last week, ClassNK and IRS succeeded in bringing
together one of the largest number of players associated with shipping and ship
recycling on one platform. There were representatives not only from amongst
ship builders, shipping companies, ship breakers including the world’s biggest
ship breaking yard, Alang in Gujarat, on the West coast of India, but also from
South Asia and Far East. With deliberations taking place in a congenial
atmosphere, it was interesting to note that each presentation ended up with
stimulating and lively discussion.
ClassNK
representatives announced that it is cooperating with all concerned parties for
necessary preparation to ensure smooth implementation. A. V. Pradhan, Regional
Manager of India ClassNK informed about the development underway of software
for suppliers which enables collection and storage of a huge amount of
information necessary for maintaining the Inventory of hazardous materials
(IHM). Also on the cards was the Prime Ship – Green / Ship Recycling Management
which employs free web-based system for IHM management utilizing Cloud
computing developed by IBM and ClassNK.
Henning
Gramann, Managing Director of GSR Services, who is also a technical consultant
for IMO on ship recycling, gave an in-depth account of ‘Global and European
trends in ship recycling’. He pointed out that ship recycling is not only for
old ships but it's from cradle to the grave. U.S. Kalghatgi, Chief Surveyor IRS
provided details about the ‘Ship Recycling Convention - The road ahead for
India’. Getting down to brass-tacks Rakesh Bhargava, Global Project Manager,
Green Recycling Services of Wilhemsen Ship Management, gave details about the
‘Development of IHM for Existing Ships’.
From
ClassNK office in Japan it was Masuaki Urata representing the Ship Recycling
Team of ClassNK who explained ‘Development of IHM for New Ships’ and Takeshi
Naruse, Practical R & D Promotion Division / Ship Recycling Team of ClassNK
about the ‘Development of SRP / SRFP and Certification of ISO 30000’.
Dr
Shyam R. Asolekar, a professor with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
and member of the Center for Environmental Science and Engineering, Mumbai,
gave an update on the dramatic transformation that has taken place within a few
years at the shipbreaking yard at Alang which now has been converted into an
eco-friendly ship breaking yard and that IIT has been instrumental in achieving
this phenomenon.
“90
per cent of the ships are dismantled at Alang,” said Dr Asolekar. “Last year
the ships recycled numbered 415 which exceed 4 million GT. Most ship recycling
yards the world over have not achieved the level of success that exists at
Alang because they are not able to achieve total recycling of ships as is being
done at Alang. Every part and every riveted portion is totally recycled at
Alang, which is why customers keep coming back to them.”
In
the discussions Pravin S. Nagarsheth President of Ship Recycling Industries
Association (India) highlighted his views that once the ship has been
decommissioned and passed by customs it ceases to be a ship and should be considered
as cargo. Besides, the beaching method as followed at Alang was the preferred
eco-friendly technique.
Source: By Joseph Fonseca. 18 June 2012
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