Harvey Gulf to outsource IHM documentation management

JANUARY 26, 2015 — Harvey Gulf International Marine, LLC, New Orleans, LA, and and Metizoft AS, Fosnavåg, Norway, have signed a framework agreement on maintenance and quality assurance of vessel Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) documentation.

IMO Guidelines - Ship Recycling; MEPC 197 (62) requirements call for ships to have on board an inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) contained in the ship's structure or fittings, together with details of their location and quantities. More and more countries have ratified or are at least getting closer to ratifying the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which makes the requirements for IHM mandatory.

The IHM, essentially is the documentation required for classification society "Green Passport" notations.

"A lot has happened in a short time, and this future requirement  will include all of the world's seagoing vessels above 500 tons deadweight at an earlier stage than some anticipated," , says Metizoft's Chief Marketing Officer Øyvind Sundgot. "The European Union formally adopted the requirement on December 30, 2013, with some adjustments based on IMO - Hong Kong Convention. The new EU Ship Recycling Regulation means that EU-flagged vessels of 500 GT and over will be required to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM). When calling at EU ports, vessels from non-EU countries will also be required to carry an IHM identifying all hazardous materials on board. This means that the maintenance and quality assurance of the documentation is strengthened and it will therefore be very important for owners to have control of this."

"This agreement is one of several benefits of Harvey Gulf's focus on Health, Safety and Environment, which also form the basis for system solutions to the company's vessels," says Corby Autin, Harvey Gulf's Executive Vice President of QHSSE / HR. "The agreement initially includes 10 vessels in operation, and future newbuildings will be subject to continuous maintenance and quality assurance of documentation at Metizoft.

""Through the agreement with Metizoft," says Mr. Autin, "IHM documentation is maintained according to the current regulations and Metizoft is helping to ensure that we comply with the requirements at all times."

Source: marine log. 26 January 2015

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