The Cyprus Shipping Chamber has welcomed the entry into force in June 2025 of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention or HKC) following ratification by Bangladesh and Liberia.
Global safe and sustainable ship recycling practices will have positive effects on human health, safety and the environment, it points out.
Recognising the progress that has been made over the past 14 years since adoption of the HKC by the IMO, the Chamber considers it imperative that the European Commission adds to the European list of approved recycling facilities, any recycling facility that meets the requirements of the Convention.
Such a move will provide “a level playing field for end-of-life EU flagged ships that are now required to be recycled in a small number of recycling facilities included in the EU List,” it says, “which is not sufficient to satisfy demand and geographic spread for a global industry like shipping.”
