Shipowners seek one recycling rulebook for shipping

European and international shipowners have called for greater alignment between European and global ship recycling rules, arguing that the entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) has transformed standards worldwide and should become the foundation for a single international framework.

European Shipowners (ECSA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have jointly published an independent study examining differences between the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) and the International Maritime Organization’s Hong Kong Convention, which entered into force on June 26 last year.

The study was commissioned ahead of the IMO’s experience-building phase due to begin in 2027 and concludes that while the two regimes are broadly aligned, important gaps remain.

According to the report, the HKC has already driven significant change in the global recycling sector. More than 100 ship recycling facilities are now certified as compliant with the convention, including numerous yards in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Türkiye and China. Together, compliant facilities now account for annual recycling capacity of around 30m gross tonnes, far exceeding current global recycling demand.

However, the study identifies three key areas where the convention could be strengthened: authorisation procedures for recycling facilities, standards governing downstream waste management, and the scope of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials required onboard ships.

Sotiris Raptis, secretary general of ECSA, described the convention’s entry into force as “a major milestone” for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.

“Our study identifies concrete areas where we can strengthen the convention and raise global standards,” Raptis said.

He also urged Brussels to address capacity constraints within the EU regime by making it easier for qualified non-OECD recycling yards to join the EU-approved recycling list.

John Stawpert, principal director of marine affairs at ICS, said the study demonstrated the “significant overlaps” between the two regulatory systems while highlighting “three critical gaps” that should be addressed during the IMO review process.

The report argues that greater convergence between the EU and global regimes would reduce regulatory fragmentation and support consistent implementation of ship recycling standards worldwide.