Inventory Of Hazardous Materials (IHM):

“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 inventory of hazardous materials, additional surveys during the life of the ship, and a final survey prior to recycling.”

– International Maritime Organization.

What is an Inventory of Hazardous Materials?

The inventory of hazardous materials was introduced in the 2009 Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. When the convention becomes compulsory in coming years all ships weighing over 500GT will be required to carry the inventory.

The inventory of hazardous materials has been introduced to ensure the safety of all those who could potentially be exposed to hazardous  materials. This could include workers in the ship yards, on the ships and at the recycling yards. Hazards that are commonly found on vessels include asbestos, PCBs, TBTs, ODS and microbiological contaminants.

Some hazardous materials found on board ship:

Asbestos	a set of six naturally occurring minerals which have been used commercially for hundreds of years due to their desirable physical properties. Their all have in common their long, thin fibrous crystals. The inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.Since January 1, 2005, the European Union has banned all use of asbestos and extraction, manufacture and processing of asbestos products. Lucion is UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to survey for asbestos containing materials and is the Royal Navy’s retained Asbestos Management Consultancy.
PCBs	PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) have been used since 1929 in a variety of applications, including as heat transfer fluids in large transformers and as dielectric fluids in capacitors. Though their use has now ceased, they are still present in many older electrical installations.
TBTs	TriButylTin are the main active ingredients in certain biocides used to control a broad spectrum of organisms, and these compounds are being considered for inclusion in the Rotterdam Convention. Uses include wood preservation, antifouling pesticide in marine paints.
ODS	Ozone-Depleting Substances. The main source of these halogen atoms in the stratosphere is photodissociation of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds, commonly called freons, and of bromofluorocarbon compounds known as halons.
Microbiological contaminants	contaminants that build up in stagnant water are also a major source of hazard in ships that are to be recycled. Hazards such as legionella and algae are particularly harmful to employees and the environment.

Due to the amount and variety of hazardous materials that are commonly found in vessels, new legislation is soon to come into place to ensure hazardous materials are contained and managed correctly. The Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009 proposes that all commercial vessels will be required to possess an ‘inventory of hazardous materials’ (also known as a green passport) which will stay with the vessel throughout its lifespan and contain a record of all hazardous materials such as those listed above and their location and status.

Source: Lucion Marine.

http://www.greenpassport.net/inventory-of-hazardous-materials/

http://www.greenpassport.net/hazards/