The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted “The Hong Kong International Convention for the safe of environmentally sound recycling of ships[ds_preview]” in 2009. It was followed by the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU-SRR) in 2013 that requires every ship from >500 GT calling at EU ports to carry an inventory of hazardous material (IHM). The IHM quantifies and locates hazardous materials on board of ships which are known to represent a potential hazard to people and the environment. The IHM consists of three parts:
• Part I: Hazardous materials contained in the ship’s structure and equipment
• Part II: Operationally generated wastes
• Part III: Stores
IHM Part I reports, which are prepared either during the construction of the ship or by IHM expert companies when the vessel is in operation, are based on document analysis and on-board investigation through sampling and visual checks. They should be certified by the flag states or by recognized organizations (ROs), such as the Korean Register. IHM Part I reports are maintained and kept up to date until the end of the ship’s life.
As of 31 December 2020, for ships in operation flying the flag of an EU member state, the IHM Certificate is required. The same deadline applies to vessels in operation flying non-EU flags but visiting EU ports, for which the IHM Statement of Compliance (SoC) is required. EU/EEA member states’ port authorities will be authorized to inspect ships in order to verify whether they have a valid IHM Certificate or Statement of Completion (SoC), or a Ready for Recycling Certificate (RfRC), on board.
Korean Register (KR)
The Korean Register (KR) was established in 1960 with the purpose of promoting safety of life, property and the protection of the marine environment. KR currently classes an international fleet of 3,050 vessels totaling 72 million GT. It is headquartered in Busan, South Korea.
