Bangladesh Proposes Amendments for Ship Recycling Legislation Ahead of 2025 Deadline

Draft amendments have been proposed to update Bangladesh’s ship recycling and hazardous waste management legislation, aiming to bring the industry in line with international environmental and safety standards. These amendments were developed through the IMO’s SENSREC project and were presented and reviewed during a high-level workshop in Dhaka. Key stakeholders in government and the private sector attended the workshop, expressing their commitment to developing Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry while emphasizing the importance of environmental performance and worker safety.

The proposed amendments seek to align Bangladesh’s shipbreaking sector with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, as well as key provisions of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. Advisers to the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Industries voiced their support for the industry’s development, while the Adviser to the Ministry of Environment called for enhanced monitoring of sustainability efforts and stricter penalties to enforce safety laws and prevent accidents and injuries to workers.

The SENSREC initiative, funded by the Government of Norway and led by the IMO, aims to support developing countries in implementing the Hong Kong Convention and promoting sustainable practices in ship recycling. With the HKC set to take effect on June 26, 2025, the shipping industry is facing a pivotal moment in ship recycling regulations. The enforcement of this regulation is crucial for sustainable ship recycling, as highlighted by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform’s concerns about substandard conditions in the industry. Ship recycling facilities in HKC signatory states will need authorization from national authorities, with the potential for additional requirements from stakeholders like EU regulators. Shipowners are encouraged to engage with stakeholders to align their recycling strategies with preferred facility standards.

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