Ship Recycling and the Need for Legislative Change
Excerpt:
In early June of 2023, far away from the Canadian west coast, Bangladesh ratified the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), thereby making a decision that may impact how vessels will be recycled in Canada in the future.
The HKC was developed over three and half years, with input from the International Maritime Organization member states and supported by 63 countries, including Canada, in May of 2009. It is primarily aimed at addressing the health and safety of workers and the protection of the marine environment throughout the ship recycling process. It also includes regulations governing the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling and the operation of ship recycling facilities.