BIMCO Launches Ship Recycling Alliance to Promote Compliance with HKC

BIMCO has recently introduced the Ship Recycling Alliance, aimed at promoting safe and environmentally friendly ship recycling practices. The alliance will serve as a platform to unite the voices of the ship recycling and shipping industries, with the goal of facilitating the global adoption of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC). With the HKC set to come into effect in June 2025, the need for compliant recycling yards in major ship recycling countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan is becoming increasingly crucial. Despite this, only a small percentage of shipowners currently opt for voluntary HKC-compliant recycling.

The Ship Recycling Alliance will play a crucial role in engaging various stakeholders, advising regulators, and raising public awareness about responsible ship recycling practices. One of its key objectives will be to collaborate with organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Secretariat of the Basel Convention (BC) to ensure legal clarity on the interaction between different conventions. This includes supporting the implementation and enforcement of BC requirements for managing waste from the ship recycling process.

Dr. Nikos Mikelis, a non-Executive Director of GMS and former IMO Head of Marine Pollution Prevention and Ship Recycling, emphasized the importance of launching the Ship Recycling Alliance to drive progress in the industry. The alliance’s founding members include organizations such as BIMCO, the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association, and the Ship Recycling Industries Association of India, among others. By uniting these stakeholders and advocating for sustainable practices, the alliance aims to advance the ship recycling sector and promote positive change.

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