Jun. 23 2025 Home Class & statutory IMO Hong Kong Convention to Enter Into Force on 26 June 2025 LinkedIn Twitter Facebook share Convention Recycling of ships Flag ALL FLAGS Ship typeAll Sea going Ship types Mandatory Statutory framework for ship recycling The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (the "Hong Kong Convention") will enter into force on 26 June 2025, introducing a globally standardized framework for ship recycling. The Convention aims to mitigate environmental and occupational risks by imposing statutory obligations on ships and ship recycling facilities. Below is a detailed overview of the key requirements. Application of the Convention The Hong Kong Convention is applicable to new and existing ships* of 500 gross tonnage (GT) and above engaged in international voyages. Furthermore, its scope extends to ship recycling facilities operating under the jurisdiction of a Party to the Convention.*Refer to below definition of “new ship” and “existing ship” Key Requirements for Ships & Recycling Facilities The convention has distinct mandatory requirements for both ships and ship recycling facilities where the ships will be recycled: Ships are required to: Comply with ban/restriction for 4 Hazardous Materials listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention (i.e. Asbestos, ODS, PCB, AFS). Develop and maintain an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) during the lifetime of the ship. Be recycled at an authorized Ship Recycling Facility Ship recycling facilities are required to: be authorized by the Competent Authority of a Party in which they operate prepare/adopt a Ship Recycling Facility Plan (SRFP) Develop a ship-specific Ship Recycling Plan (SRP) before any recycling of a ship can take place Implementation timeline for initial survey & Certification The Convention differentiates between new and existing ships with respect to the implementation timeline for IHM compliance, survey and certification: New ships shall have a reviewed IHM on board and hold a valid “International Certificate on Inventory of Hazardous Materials”.An initial survey should be conducted before the ship is put in service, in line with regulation 10.1.1 of the Convention and para.3.1.1 of MEPC.222(64). “New ship” means a ship (regulation 1.4):.1 for which the building contract is placed on or after 26 June 2025 (entry into force of the Convention); or.2 in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after 26 December 2025 (six months after entry into force of this Convention); or.3 the delivery of which is on or after 26 December 2027(30 months after the entry into force of this Convention). Existing ships shall have a reviewed IHM on board and hold a valid “International Certificate on Inventory of Hazardous Materials” not later than 26 June 2030 taking into account the 2012 Guidelines for the survey and certification of ships under the Hong Kong Convention (MEPC.222(64)). Harmonization of surveys: Unless otherwise instructed by the flag, initial survey for the existing ships shall be carried out at or before the renewal survey of other statutory certificates on or after 26 June 2025. The term of the certificate shall be harmonized with other statutory certificates in line with regulations 5.2 and 10.5 of the Convention and para.3.1.2 of MEPC.222(64). “Existing ship” means a ship which is not a new ship (regulation 1.3). The Central role of t