As attention begins to focus on the results of the European Commission’s review of its Ship Recycling Regulations, which are expected to be published in Q2 2024, BIMCO has jointly submitted a paper ahead of the 81st Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting on 18-22 March 2024, together with Bangladesh, India, Norway, Pakistan and the ICS. The paper underlines the need to resolve potential conflicting requirements between the Hong Kong Convention and the Basel Convention which are leading to inconsistent regional interpretations. 

The signatories are asking the MEPC of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to offer more legal certainty that shipowners and parties operating in compliance with the Hong Kong Convention will not be sanctioned as a violation of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (the Basel Convention). The signatories are concerned that a failure to do so could have severe consequences for shipowners, ship recycling facilities and ships.

The letter notes that contravention of the Basel Convention, as applied to ship recycling, has resulted in sanctions against shipowners and masters. The Motorship notes that there is concern that the EU may seek to tighten restrictions on the export of vessels, in line with other moves to increase recycling within the bloc affecting end of life vehicles, waste electronic devices and white goods.