Sustainable Shipping Initiative hosts Roundtable on Sustainable Ship Recycling

The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), a coalition of companies from across the global shipping industry, held its third annual Roundtable on Sustainable Ship Recycling 1 March 2017 in Singapore. Attendees of the event included members of the SSI as well as delegates from nongovernmental organisations, industry bodies, class societies, regulatory bodies and ship owners. Additionally, invitations were extended to recycling yards in China, Turkey and the United State that are certified as compliant with the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).

Delegates at the event discussed and debated the complex challenges and barriers facing the industry in its pursuit of sustainable ship recycling and how they can be overcome.

In remarks made at the event, Ian Petty, SSI general manager, said, “This is the SSI’s third roundtable dedicated to making progress in achieving sustainable ship recycling, and building on the outcomes accomplished at our previous events. This year, we have more attendees than ever, from a wider range of organizations relevant to the issue of sustainable ship recycling, and we look forward to making further progress in driving change and overcoming the complex barriers and challenges.”

The roundtable, held under the Chatham House rule, focused on how further improvements could be made at and around ship recycling facilities in areas such as health, safety, social conditions and governance that go beyond the basic compliance with the Hong Kong Convention (HKC). The delegates also discussed how the progress and improvements that have been made to date can be standardized and maintained.

Since its last roundtable, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last March, the HKC has moved closer to being formally ratified, with Denmark and Panama both agreeing to sign the convention, and India announcing its intention to do the same in 2017. In addition, more recycling yards have received Statements of Compliance with the HKC.

While the shift demonstrates the progression that has been made within the industry, more work needs to be done to further improve the safety, environmental and social conditions associated with ship recycling, SSI says. 

“Despite the progress made," Petty said, "ship recycling remains an incredibly complex issue with differing opinions on how and where developments should be made. It is therefore vital that we create a forum where these important discussions can be held, and where the SSI and its members can actively work with key stakeholders to drive progress in an area that is so integral to delivering a sustainable shipping industry by 2040."

Members of the SSI include ABN AMRO, AkzoNobel, Bunge, Cargill, China Navigation Company, IMC, Lloyd’s Register, Maersk Line, U-Ming Marine Transport Corp. and Wärtsilä.