Impact of global
legislation on key ship recycling hubs scheduled for high-level debate at
Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2014 as industry experts meet to share their
experiences and issue call in support of the IMO’s Hong Kong Convention for the
Safe and Environmentally Friendly Recycling of Ships, SMEM press-release said.
The environmental and
human safety cost of ship recycling as well as the formulation of stringent new
legislation that is putting additional pressure on shipyard operations around
the globe will be addressed during a special session at the seventh biennial
Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM) summit and exhibition, which is part of
the Dubai Maritime Week, hosted by Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) and
will take place in Dubai from 28-30 October 2014.
The day three session,
scheduled for 2-4 pm, will present an up-to-the-minute picture of the current
issues and key concerns facing ship recyclers, and use case studies to discuss
practical solutions, with a focus on hazardous waste management developments,
general health and safety, environmental management and the international
regulatory environment.
“Decommissioned vessel
recycling has always been part of the maritime life cycle, but with increasing
importance being placed on sustainability in terms of both environmental and
human safety, plus the advent of new international legislation, the way in
which breakers yards around the world operate and the challenges that they
face, is a pressing agenda issue,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade,
organisers of Seatrade Middle East Maritime.
The International
Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and
Environmentally Friendly Recycling of Ships (2009) set out a roadmap for
increased worker safety and environmental protection but has yet to be fully
ratified.
In December 2013, the
European Commission (EC) took its own steps to add momentum to the movement for
change with drafted regulations introduced to ‘force’ ship recycling yards to
improve the standard of their operations and technical capabilities in order to
make it onto an approved facility list for the scrapping of EU member state
vessels.
The regulations, which
went live in January 2014, extend beyond the HKC mandate stipulating that ships
must be dismantled using a ‘built structure’ with an impermeable floor to
contain hazardous waste leakage. This has raised red flags in India, Pakistan
and Bangladesh with concerns that the beaching of EU-registered vessels could
potentially be restricted or even banned.
Moderated by Bernard
Veldhoven, Secretary General, International Ship Recycling Association, the
panelist line-up includes Rakesh Bhargava, Head Green Recycling & IHM Services,
Wilhelmsen Ship Management?; Vagelis Chatzigiannis, SNP Trader, Green Ship
Recycling Co-ordinator, Global Marketing Systems (GMS); ?Keyur Dave, Chief
Financial Officer, Wirana Shipping Corp., Singapore?; Stephen Drury, Partner,
Holman, Fenwick & Willan; and ?Ali Lakhani, Director, Dubai Trading Agency,
UAE.
In a 2013 report,
Lloyd’s List also identified an emerging trend for cash buyers bringing in
commercial brokers to ensure vessels’ last cargoes are discharged as close as
possible to the scrapping location.
The report, which
analysed the last voyage origins of recycled ships in 2012, noted that Turkish
yards were securing dismantling rights for an increasing number of vessels that
had cleared their final cargo in Europe, highlighting the fact that this left
owners of smaller vessels reluctant to pay for refueling and Suez Canal fees to
send them to the Indian subcontinent for scrapping.
A total of 256
ex-service vessels were scrapped in China in 2012 according to the report, with
the top five destinations of call named as South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan,
Russia and Malaysia; collectively accounting for 55% of final voyage origins.
According to the China National Ship Recycling Association, the country
dismantled 2.5 million tons of scrap vessels in 2013, up 4.6 percent from the
previous year.
It was also the country
of origin for the last voyage of 7% of all ships recycled in 2012 (100
vessels), beaten only by the UAE with 104 ships. For Bangladesh’ recycling
yards it was the top country of origin, accounting for 25% of all vessels, and
also made the top three in India and Pakistan.
Held under the patronage
of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister
of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, SMEM is the largest event in
the regional calendar, with more than 7,000 participants from 67 countries expected
to attend following a record turnout in 2012. SMEM 2012 welcomed 7,065
attendees, 242 exhibiting companies from 33 countries and covered exhibition
floor space totalling 4,338 square metres
- a 7% increase on 2010.
This October 28-30th
2014 sees the return of Seatrade Middle East Maritime to Dubai. Now in its
seventh edition, the event continues to be held up by industry experts as the
'region's premier event for the maritime industry' – an accolade that is proven
by more than 7,000 participants attending the thee-day conference and
exhibition from 67 countries.
Held every two years,
Seatrade Middle East Maritime focuses on what is important to the maritime
industry – from commercial marine to offshore, ports, piracy and energy
services. With a wide audience spanning across the whole of the Middle East,
the show attracts the region's largest number of key industry players, as well
as strong international representation.
Seatrade Maritime Awards
Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa take place on the evening of Monday
27th October and Seatrade Middle East Maritime runs from 28-30th October 2014.
Both events are part of Dubai Maritime Week which is hosted by Dubai Maritime
City Authority (DMCA).
Source: port news. 8
October 2014
http://en.portnews.ru/news/188442/
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