Germany and China work towards ‘greener’ ship recycling:

Germany/China: Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and the China National Ship Recycling Association (CNSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding committing them to investing their mutual knowledge and resources in promoting green ship recycling in China. Their efforts will centre on improving research practice and setting up a range of training programmes and pilot projects.

The agreement was signed at the Beijing workshop on the ‘Early Implementation of the Technical Standards of the Hong Kong Convention in China’. According to Gerhard Aulbert, GL Vice President & Area Manager of Greater China, the decision to join forces ‘underlines the commitment of the Chinese ship recycling industry to reducing the environmental impact of a ship, through to the end of its useful life cycle’.

CNSA President Xie Dehua said he shared Mr Aulbert’s hopes that ‘intensive long-term collaboration’ would focus the partners more clearly in finding a sustainable approach to ship recycling. ‘It is my belief that a good collaboration by both sides in training, pilot projects and funding is of immediate significance for exploring and attaining the goal of greener ship recycling,’ he said.

To help ensure that ship recycling yards comply with a stricter environmental regime, GL and the GNSA have promised a programme to familiarise workers and management with incoming regulations and requirements.

Building on the foundations set by the Hong Kong Convention, which will come into force in 2015, workers will be brought up to speed on how to treat hazardous materials correctly, while yard managements will be trained in preparing a ‘Ship Recycling Facility Plan’, a set of procedures designed to prevent accidents and spills.

For more information, visit: www.gl-group.com

Source: Recycling International. 18 June 2012

http://www.recyclinginternational.com/recycling-news/6346/other-news/germany-china/germany-and-china-work-towards-greener-ship-recycling

IMO workshop on ship recycling:

The workshop took palce from 30 May to 2 June 2012.

The purpose of IMO’s National Workshop on the early implementation of the technical standards of the Hong Kong Convention in China was to bring together representatives of a number of European flag states, the European Commission, and representatives from China as a forward looking ship recycling state, the Chinese ship recycling industry (China National Shiprecycling Association and its members), international shipowners’ associations (BIMCO, ICS and INTERTANKO), and large European national shipowners’ associations (Germany, Greece and Norway).

BIMCO had been invited to present its new standard contract on ship recycling, code named RECYCLECON. The presentation can be seen via the below link.

RECYCLECON is a contract, targeting the market of green recycling. It has been developed to accommodate the sector of the market made up of owners and recycling yards that are committed to embracing safety and environmental considerations when recycling ships. One of BIMCO’s key objectives is the harmonisation of international trade practices.

RECYCLECON is seen as a means of bringing commercial harmony to the process of the "green" recycling of ships, consistent with the objectives of the IMO Convention.

The aim of the workshop was to create the necessary understanding and communication channels leading to the establishment of a workable and effective regime of safety and pollution prevention standards that should be based on the technical requirements of the Hong Kong Convention in the interim period.

On 23 March 2012, the European Commission adopted the “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on ship recycling”. As part of the European decision making process, the proposed Regulation will have to be negotiated between the Directorate General of Environment of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council over the coming months before it can be finalized, published, and enter into force. The new regulation is important to ship owners of European flagged ships as it legitimizes the practice that ships may be recycled in facilities outside the OECD.

BIMCO is pleased that the proposed Regulation is based on the technical standards of the Hong Kong Convention. This is a prerogative for a global regulation of ship recycling. In its presentation BIMCO did, however, address some of its concerns with regard to the European proposed regulation, where in certain places it goes beyond the Hong Kong Convention. Some of the concerns are of a commercial nature that place extra competitive burden and liabilities on European ship owners in comparison with other flags.

Representatives from the Chinese ship recycling industry presented the plan for ship recycling in China, underlining its reputation for being safe and green. Ship recycling yards in China have made a tremendous effort to improve the environmental parts of recycling, ensuring waste treatment and containment of hazardous materials. It was clear that they were on the right track to be able to live up to the conditions in the Hong Kong Convention.

The two day workshop was followed by visits to Yinhu Yard, Zongxzin Yard, Shuangshui Yard and Changjiang Yard.

This was a very important and timely workshop, where BIMCO had the possibility to express its views on the obstacles that will have to be levelled out for implementing the proposed European Regulation, which at the end of the day will be a big stepping stone to the entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention. Furthermore, there is no doubt that China today is heading in the right direction and is at the forefront of performing green recycling.

Source: vietfracht 4 June 2012

http://www.vietfracht.com.vn/News_Detail.asp?ID=2585

Greener Ship Recycling: GL signs MOU with CNSA

Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and the China National Ship Recycling Association (CNSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together to promote green ship recycling in China. GL and CNSA will collaborate to develop training programmes, pilot projects, and research practices that will allow the Chinese ship recycling industry to comply with incoming international regulations, in advance of their entry into force dates, and further green ship recycling in China.

The MOU was signed by CNAS President Xie and GL’s Mr. Koumoudhis and Mr. Aulbert (2nd to 4th from the left), under the observation of the IMO’s Mr. Mikelis (1st on the left).  

The MOU was signed at the Workshop on the “Early Implementation of the Technical Standards of the Hong Kong Convention in China”, held in Beijing this week. In a ceremony, Mr. Xie Dehua, President of CNSA, and two Vice Presidents, Mr. Huang Zhaoli and Mr. Wu Jun joined Mr. Evgenios Koumoudhis, GL Vice President & Area Manager of Greater China and Gerhard Aulbert, Head of GL’s Ship Recycling Practice in making the agreement between the two partners official. The signing was witnessed by Mr. Nikos Mikelis, Head, Marine Pollution Prevention and Ship Recycling Section, The International Maritime Organization.

Speaking of the MOU, Mr Gerhard Aulbert said: “This agreement underlines the commitment of the Chinese ship recycling industry to reducing the environmental impact of a ship, through to the end of its useful lifecycle. This intensive and long term collaboration will help to bring a clearer focus on a sustainable approach to ship recycling.” Mr. Xie Dehua pointed out in his speech, “It is my belief that a good collaboration by both sides in training, pilot projects and funding is of important and immediate significance for exploring and attaining the goal of ‘greener’ ship recycling.”

Training will be one of the keys to preparing ship recycling yards to operate in a stricter environmental climate. Under the MOU GL and CNSA will work to develop a programme which familiarises both management and workers at the yards with the incoming regulations and the requirements they face to meet these standards.

The Hong Kong Convention will require that ship recycling facilities are authorised to deal with the material generated from recycling in a manner that is both environmentally responsible and protects the health of workers. This includes making sure that workers are trained to deal with hazardous materials appropriately and that they have access to and are trained in the use of the protective equipment required for its disposal. Hazardous material must be kept separate from recyclables and transferred to a disposal facility which itself meets the requirements of the Convention. Recycling facilities must prepare a Ship Recycling Facility Plan, a set of management systems and procedures which are designed, among other things, to protect workers and the environment, prevent accidents and spills, and monitor and report on recycling activities and adverse incidents.

Today China is one of the three largest ship recycling countries, with a rapidly growing share of the global market. In 2005 China implemented regulations to bring its industry into line with international regulations and promote environmentally responsive technology and practices in ‘greener’ ship recycling.

The Hong Kong Convention 2009 and European Commission Proposed Regulation

The “Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009” adopted by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), is expected to come into force in 2015. Its aim is to minimise, in the most effective, efficient and sustainable way, the environmental and occupational health risks of ship recycling.

The European Commission has recently proposed new regulations based on the requirements of the Hong Kong Convention that would require European ships to be recycled in facilities deemed to be safe for workers and environmentally sound. Under the new rules ship recycling facilities would have to meet a set of environmental and safety requirements in order to be included on a list of authorised facilities world wide. European ships will be allowed to be recycled only in facilities on the list. Some of the requirements to be met by the ship recycling facilities are stricter than those of the Hong Kong Convention.

Source: Germanischer Lloyd. 31 May 2012

http://www.gl-group.com/en/group/news_greener_ship_recycling_gl_signs_mou_with_cnsa.php

INTERTANKO AMONG THOSE REPRESENTED IN BEIJING SHIP RECYCLING WORKSHOP:

INTERTANKO participated in a ship recycling workshop in Beijing this week, organised jointly by the IMO and the Chinese National Ship Recycling Association (CNSA). The purpose of IMO’s “National Workshop on the early implementation of the technical standards of the Hong Kong Convention in China” was to bring together representatives from the European Commission (EC) with flag states, China (as the recycling state), the Chinese ship recycling industry (CNSA and its members) and the international shipowners’ associations.

One of the key reasons for holding the workshop was based on the renewed efforts by the European Union (EU) to introduce governance to the field of ship recycling in the interim period – i.e. between the adoption and final entry into force of the IMO’s Hong Kong Convention on Ship Recycling (HKC).

As advised in Weekly News 14, the European Commission on 23 March 2012 adopted the “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and Council on ship recycling”. As part of the European decision-making process, the proposed Regulation will have to be negotiated between the Directorate General of Environment of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of Europe over the coming months before it can be finalised, published, and then enter into force.

The proposed Regulation is based on the technical standards of the HKC. Therefore, when the Convention enters into force, it will be easy to replace the European Regulation with the HKC. The Chinese ship recycling industry is seen as being vitally important for the initiative of the EC on the proposed Regulation, as at present these facilities are closest to meeting the standards within the HKC and hence the EU-proposed regulation. The Commission is therefore keen to ensure that facilities actually exist to allow European ship owners to recycle their vessels according to the relevant safety and environmental standards.

From the Chinese perspective, the initiative of the EC is seen as increasingly important to the commercial success of the Chinese ship recycling industry.

The workshop was followed by two days of site visits to ship recycling facilities in China, for which INTERTANKO’s Senior Manager – Environment, Tim Wilkins, joined the delegation, including Yinhu, Zhongxin, Shuanhshui and Changjiang Recycling Yards.

Source: INTERTANKO. 1 June 2012

http://www.intertanko.com/News-Desk/Home-Page-Article/INTERTANKO-among-those-represented-in-Beijing-ship-recycling-workshop/