Malta Becomes Newest Hong Kong Convention Member

The International Maritime Organization’s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling welcomed its twelfth member as Malta acceded to the Hong Kong Convention.

Victor Camilleri, Permanent Representative of Malta to IMO, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London on May 14 to deposit the instrument of accession.

The meeting took place under the auspices of the IMO’s summit on shipping’s climate impact (MEPC 74), which is taking place in London between May 13 and 17.

The Hong Kong Convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships.

Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards are required to provide a ship recycling plan, specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory.

According to IMO, the twelve contracting states party to the convention now represent more than 28.8 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage. Entry into force requires 15 states, 40 percent of the world’s merchant fleet and their ship recycling volume constituting not less than 3% of the gross tonnage of these contracting states’ merchant fleet.

Speaking at the International seminar on ship recycling: Towards the early entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention held in London on May 10, Kitack Lim called for wider adoption of the convention in order to bring it into force as soon as possible.