From 26 June 2025, ships at the end of their service must be recycled safely and sustainably under the Hong Kong Convention.
Developed under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Convention introduces mandatory regulations covering the design, construction, operation, and preparation of ships to support responsible recycling. It also governs the operation of ship recycling facilities and establishes enforcement mechanisms such as surveys, authorisation, certification, inspection, and reporting.
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IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated: “The entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention this year marks a watershed moment in our shared objective to promote sustainable and safe ship recycling practices globally.
“This achievement reflects years of dedicated work and will renew our drive to safeguard human health and the environment in this critical industry.”
The Convention tackles key environmental, occupational health, and safety risks in ship recycling, distributing responsibilities across stakeholders, including shipowners, shipyards, recycling facilities, flag States, port States, and recycling States.
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Key measures include:
- Prohibiting or restricting hazardous materials such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, ozone-depleting substances, and anti-fouling compounds containing organotin or cybutryne.
- Requiring detailed inventories of hazardous materials on board ships.
- Setting operational requirements for ship recycling facilities, including improved working conditions.
- Establishing robust certification, compliance, and enforcement mechanisms.
To assist developing countries, the IMO has organised workshops and capacity-building initiatives, including the Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling (SENSREC) Project, with support from the Government of Norway. This project aids countries in policy alignment, governance, and sustainable practices, and is currently active in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Adopted in May 2009, the Hong Kong Convention’s entry-into-force requirements were met in 2023, with implementation beginning 24 months later. To date, 24 Parties, including major flag states and ship recycling countries, have joined, representing 57.15 per cent of global shipping tonnage.
The Convention was developed with input from intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Basel Convention Parties.
Earlier this month, the IMO hosted a regional workshop on Maritime GHG Emissions Data and National Action Plans in Bangkok. The workshop provided practical tools and guidance to help address ongoing challenges in emissions data systems, national policy planning, and access to green financing across the region.
