Global experts gather in Tokyo for ClassNK ship recycling seminar

Around 300 people gathered in Tokyo on 12 May to attend a ship recycling seminar held by leading classification society ClassNK. In addition to ClassNK representatives, top industry experts from Asia and Europe discussed the current challenges of ship recycling and what the industry can do to support safe and environmentally sound recycling practices, ClassNK said in its news release.

Mr. Koichi Kato, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, Maritime Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), opened the seminar with a keynote address.

Speakers during the first half of the seminar explored the current situation of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (HKC) and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU Regulation) in Europe and Japan.

The second half of the seminar focused on the present state of ship recycling facilities (SRFs) in South Asia with presentations by key industry figures and a panel discussion.

Captain Simon Bennett, General Manager of Sustainable Development at The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd. / Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd pointed out the sustainability value of ship recycling.

Mr. Keiji Tomoda, Chairman of the Ship Recycling Committee of Japan Shipowners’ Association spoke on ClassNK’s issuance of HKC Statements of Convention (SoCs) to four SRFs in India.

Mr. John Kornerup Bang, Head of Positioning & Strategic Risk Management, Group Sustainability at A.P. Møller - Mærsk Group also approached the topic from a shipowner’s perspective.

Mr. Henning Gramann, CEO, GSR Services GmbH suggested shipowners look closely at how different SRFs operate.

ClassNK concluded how important it is for the industry to take a collective approach to better ship recycling, including the development and maintenance of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials as well as the increase of compliant SRFs.

ClassNK has been actively encouraging SRFs develop the necessary ship recycling facility plans and upgrade their facilities so that they can meet the requirements of the HKC. It has so far issued a total of nine HKC SoCs to SRFs in Japan, China and India, and is currently working in close collaboration with an additional eight SRFs in India to close the gaps identified by inspections so that they too can achieve full compliance with the HKC.