St. Vincent and the Grenadines issued a revised circular on ship recycling compliance

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Maritime Administration has recently released updated Circular GEN 024 on Ship Recycling outlining compliance requirements for the safe and environmentally responsible recycling of ships. The circular is directed at shipowners, operators, managers, and ship masters under SVG's registry, detailing requirements from both the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). The purpose of these regulations is to protect human health and the environment from hazards associated with the disposal of ships.

Key Regulations and Dates:

1. Hong Kong International Convention (HKC): Adopted in 2009, the HKC will take effect on June 26, 2025, and applies to ships over 500 gross tonnage (GT). It mandates that each ship maintains a certified Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), which lists hazardous materials in the ship's structure and equipment. Existing ships must comply by 2030, while new ships built after June 2025 must comply upon delivery.
2. EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) No 1257/2013: Effective since December 31, 2020, the EU SRR applies to EU-flagged ships and also impacts non-EU flagged ships that call at EU ports, especially for end-of-life voyages starting from or passing through