The first phase of the project for ensuring a
safe and environment-friendly ship-breaking industry has come to an end. It was
revealed at a workshop on SENSREC (safe and environmentally sound ship
recycling) in Bangladesh in the capital recently.
The workshop was jointly organised by
Ministry of Industries (MoI), Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recycling
Association (BSBRA), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Norwegian
Development Authority (NORAD) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO), a statement of the association said.
Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu was
present as the chief guest in the programme, presided over by MoI Additional
Secretary Ms Parag.
Norwegian Ambassador Ms Sidsel, BSBRA Foreign
Affairs Secretary and PHP Shipyard Managing Director Zahirul Islam Rinku, Dr
Stephen and Dr Jose Methecal of IMO, and Brussels Convention Programme Officer
Ms Susan Windfield also spoke in the event.
The speakers said the steps, proposed by MoI
and being executed by the Norwegian government and the donor organisations,
will help a lot in recycling and treatment of destructive materials of local
ship-breaking industry, and thus save it from environmental pollution.
The resolutions of Hong Kong International
Convention of 2009, Brussels Convention of 1992 and European Union (EU) of 2013
regarding ship-recycling are committed to stop the environmental hazards in the
industry, they also said.
The speakers further said a project, taken at
a cost of Tk two billion (Tk 200 crores), is under implementation, and Tk 500
million have so far been allotted under it. The Norwegian government will
provide US$ one million for the project.
PHP Family has already upgraded its
ship-breaking yards, which has become a model for other ship-breaking units,
the workshop was told.
A high-powered delegation of United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank and EU, headed by the Norwegian
ambassador, has recently visited the ship-breaking yards at Sitakunda of the
country. The yards have brought about large-scale changes to ensure overall
protection of environment, the speakers added.
Bangladesh is currently the top ship-breaking
country with dismantling over 2.7 million tonnes of scrap-ships a year,
followed by India with 2.2 million tonnes.
Source:
the
financial express. 03 Mar 2017
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