The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (the Hong Kong Convention 2009) will enter into force on 26 June 2025, i.e. within 24 months, after Bangladesh and Liberia became Contracting States to the Convention.
After Bangladesh and Liberia ratified the Convention on 26 June 2023, the total number of contracting States to the Ship Recycling Convention reached 22:
Adopted in 2009, the Ship Recycling Convention is to ensure safety in labor and environmental protection during ship recycling activities. Development and maintenance of Part I of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), which identifies the amount and location of hazardous materials onboard a ship, will be required:
Also, after 26 June 2025, all ships which apply to the convention will be required to be recycled in the authorized Ship Recycling Facilities operating under the jurisdiction of a Party. The Hong Kong Convention now has the following contracting parties: Bangladesh, Belgium, the Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Japan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malta, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Spain, Türkiye.
PRS has been issuing Certificates and SoC (Statement of Compliance) for compliance with Ship Recycling Regulation 1257/2013 for Part I of the IHM developed in preparation for the incoming Convention. Meanwhile, SOC will need to be converted into international certificates taking into account the entry into force of the Convention. Also, all certificates and SoCs issued in compliance with a.m. EU Regulation will be reissued in due time to comply with the Convention. Additional information regarding surveys and international certificates upon the entry into force of the Convention will be announced through further online information as well as by notice in a ship’s status.
PRS offers a dedicated application for the preparation and dispatch of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, Part I. The application is to support shipyards and shipowners in complying with the EU Regulation 1257/2013 and it will be suitable for being in compliance with the requirements of HK Conventions when these enter into force. It shortens the IMH verification process and enables the preparation of the IHM in compliance with the Regulation, IMO guidelines, and HK Convention.
More about ship recycling services by PRS on the dedicated site or via email contact at recycling@prs.pl.
Information on the Hong Kong Convention’s entry into force can be found on the IMO website:
