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The Recycling of Ships Bill has entered into force in India and provides greater powers for the regulation of ship recycling in the country, setting internationally recognised standards and laying down the statutory mechanism for the enforcement of such standards. The Government has also decided to sign up to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
Under the terms of the new Act, ship recycling facilities are required to be authorised and ships can in future only be recycled at such authorised ship recycling facilities. This Act also provides that ships will be recycled in accordance with a ship-specific recycling plan and shall be required to have a Ready for Recycling Certificate in accordance with the Hong Kong Convention.
The new Act imposes a statutory duty on ship recyclers to ensure the safe and environmentally sound removal and management of hazardous waste from ships. Penalties have been introduced in the Act to deter any violation of the new statutory provisions.
The Indian Government believes that accession to the Hong Kong Convention and enactment of Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 will raise the profile of the country’s ship recycling industry as being environment friendly and safety conscious. As a result, it is expected that the measures combined will go a long way towards consolidating India’s position as the market leader in terms of ship recycling.
