New ship recycling project launched in Pakistan

A new project, aimed at enhancing safety and environmental responsibility in the ship recycling industry, while upholding global labor rights standards, has been launched in Pakistan.

The first workshop of the “Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and Decent Work (SENSREC-DW)” project was held in Karachi on September 16, 2024.

It gathered approximately 150 people representing stakeholders from various sectors, including government officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Climate Change and the Baluchistan Development Agency, industry representatives, as well as labor organizations.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the primary focus was how to ensure compliance with international standards outlined in the Hong Kong Convention, the Basel Convention and the International Labour Organization (ILO) treaties, and strategies for improving working conditions, especially in developing countries, given the high risks associated with shipbreaking activities.

Participants outlined specific objectives and activities for the project, emphasizing the need for capacity building and training programs tailored to local contexts, IMO said, adding that they took part in a technical visit to ship recycling yards in Gadani, Baluchistan, to learn from the field and observe some of the key challenges faced by the industry.

The outcomes of the discussions are expected to guide the implementation of initiatives designed to promote “decent” work and sustainable practices in ship recycling facilities across Pakistan.

To note, this new project is a collaboration between the IMO and ILO, and builds on the ongoing SENSEREC project in Bangladesh, first launched in 2015.

The Hong Kong Convention, adopted in 2009, is designed to ensure that ships are recycled without posing risks to human health or the environment. It mandates that ships carry an inventory of hazardous materials and that recycling facilities develop a specific ship recycling plan for each vessel. The convention is set to enter into force on June 26, 2025, and aims to enhance safety standards across the global ship recycling industry.

At the beginning of 2024, BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), together with Bangladesh, India, Norway and Pakistan, submitted a paper to the IMO to solve possible conflicting requirements of the Hong Kong Convention and the Basel Convention. If left unresolved, the inconsistencies could have severe consequences for shipowners, ship recycling facilities and ships, the partners claimed.