The second phase of an IMO-implemented
project to enhance safe and environmentally sound ship recycling in Bangladesh
is set to begin in January, following a US$1.1 million funding agreement with
Norway.
The two-year project will build on the first
phase of the Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling in Bangladesh
(SENSREC) project, which resulted in economic and environmental studies on ship
recycling in Bangladesh, the development of training materials and capacity
building plans and a preliminary design for infrastructure including facilities
for treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes generated from
recycling operations.
Bangladesh is one the world’s top four ship
recycling countries by capacity, alongside China, India and Pakistan, which
together account for 94.9% of known ship recycling in the world . Ship
recycling is key for the local economy and produces large quantities of steel
and other materials which are recycled and sold on.
The second phase of the SENSREC project
(SENSREC Phase II – capacity building) will continue to support Bangladesh to
comply with international requirements and guide Bangladesh towards accession
to the IMO ship recycling treaty, the Hong Kong International Convention for
the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (known as the Hong Kong
Convention). The Hong Kong Convention sets the international standards for ship
recycling and, when in force, will ensure that ships do not pose any
unnecessary risks to human health, safety or the environment when being
recycled at the end of their operational lives.
The SENSREC Phase II – capacity building
project will assist Bangladesh to build the capacity to develop and implement a
legal, policy and institutional roadmap towards accession to the Hong Kong
Convention. Also, under the project, a variety of stakeholders will be trained
to lay the foundation for an effective and sustainable training programme
within the ship recycling sector in Bangladesh.
“We are very pleased to be moving forwards
with phase II of the SENSREC project.. The key focus of this phase will be on
training and governance, to ensure safe and sustainable ship recycling,” said
Dr. Stefan Micallef, Director of IMO’s Marine Environment Division, adding that
the comprehensive training programme would be aimed at workers in ship
recycling yards, supervisors and government officials.
Two core work packages form the basis of the
project. The first work package focuses on building the national capacities to
prepare for accession to the Hong Kong Convention by interconnecting three
activities – to assessing the present situation, exploring current best
practices in other ship recycling countries and identifying recommendations and
a roadmap to guide the Government of Bangladesh towards accession to the
Convention.
The second work package will deliver targeted
pilot training activities for a variety of stakeholders, in line with the Hong
Kong Convention requirements, establish a robust training management and
governance system and deliver training activities developed for various
stakeholders and workforces. In addition, two training workshops, supported by
the Secretariat of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), will
address waste management issues. IMO will act as the implementing and executing
agency for the project, working closely with the Ministry of Industries of the
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, which will act as the
national executing partner.
The project is funded by Norway’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, channelling finance through the Embassy of Norway to
Bangladesh. The budget is 9 Million Norwegian Krone (approximately US$1.1
million), for the 24-month project, commencing in January 2018. The agreement
between IMO and Norway on funding support was signed on 24 November 2017.
Other international partners including the
Secretariat of the BRS Conventions, the International Labour Organization (ILO)
and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will also be
involved.
Source:
hellenic
shipping news. 15 December 2017
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