The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing draft amendments to Bangladesh's ship recycling and hazardous waste management legislation to align the shipbreaking industry with international environmental standards and safety regulations. This was discussed during a workshop on 16 February in Dhaka, aiming to comply with the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which Bangladesh ratified in 2023. This initiative is part of the IMO's Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling (SENSREC) project, funded by Norway. Following the workshop, Bangladesh's Ministry of Industries will compile feedback into a draft proposal for final review and approval. With thousands of vessels expected to be decommissioned by 2032, there is increasing pressure for safer, more environmentally friendly shipbreaking practices. The Hong Kong Convention will take effect in June 2025, but concerns remain about its ability to fully address hazardous conditions in shipbreaking hubs, particularly in South Asia. In 2023, 85% of the global end-of-life fleet was dismantled on beaches in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, with Bangladesh dismantling 130 ships. However, the country faces scrutiny due to workplace accidents, including a tragic explosion in 2024 that killed six workers. Following this, SN Corporation lost its environmental clearance. (ICE NEW DELHI)

Fonte notizia: The Business Standard