Dr Anil Sharma,
president and CEO of GMS, the world’s largest cash buyer of ships, writes
exclusively for Splash.
Ship recycling
plays a vital role in the lifecycle of a ship, as it is fundamental to the
progression of the industry and shipbuilding. GMS, as the world’s largest cash
buyer of ships for recycling and offshore structures, is committed to
pioneering sustainability within the ship and maritime recycling field.
In recent months,
the first yards in India have been certified as compliant with the Hong Kong
International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of
Ships (HKC). Although it is yet to be formally ratified, the standards within
the HKC are making strong headway towards changing the industry, and is
enabling achievable, sustainable goals for ship recycling. By looking at the
yards who are preparing in advance of the regulation, and are already HKC
compliant, we can see the positive impact from what can, and must, be achieved
in all yards. Indeed the yards themselves are beginning to realise that
previous practices are no longer socially or environmentally acceptable, or
economically prudent, and the world will be holding them accountable for their
out dated procedures.
GMS has a
partnerships with leading HKC-ceritified yards in Asia, and we are seeing
significant growth in demand for this service, which demonstrates that
compliant yards are reaping the commercial benefits. This is the case across
the industry, not just for South Asia, and this globally recognised standard
must be supported and given the chance to achieve its potential, and change
yards around the world for the better.
Many people rely on
this vital industry, both directly and indirectly, and recycling is something
that all ships will one day face; the stigma attached to it needs to be
challenged in the face of vast and ongoing improvements. The focus needs to be
on the positive changes and progress being made thanks to the HKC, and those
that are driving it forward in the major recycling regions.
The demand for
responsible ship recycling seems to now exceed supply, particularly in South
Asia where most of the world’s ship recycling takes place. As these yards see
growth for their services based on good health, safety and environmental
practices, other yards compete for poorer quality ships at high prices. This
has forced other, non-compliant yards to consider HKC compliance and ISO and
OSHSAS certification to boost their businesses.
Making good CSR and
sustainable ship recycling a fundamental demand from owners is starting to
deliver change, and we will see this even more as the HKC comes into force. But
if the demand peters out due to poor EU regulation deeming all beach recycling
‘dirty’, the incentive to improve these yards will also disappear.
The industry as a
whole needs to support the compliant yards, those working towards compliance,
and the HKC itself, to help foster this continued improvement. That means that
shipowners need to take advantage of sustainable recycling services and make
sustainable recycling the norm across the industry, rather than the exception.
Source:
splash247.
15 March 2016
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