Memorandum submitted by the International
Maritime Organization
DISMANTLING OF DEFUNCT SHIPS IN THE UK
In response to your request for written evidence,
the following is a brief account of the development of the ship
recycling issue in this Organization.
1. The issue of ship recycling was first
brought to the attention of the IMO's Marine Environment Protection
Committee at its forty-second session in 1998 and at the following
sessions of the Committee it was generally agreed that IMO has
an important role to play in ship recycling, including preparation
of a ship before recycling commences, and a co-ordinating role
towards the ILO and the Basel Convention in ship recycling matters.
2. The Organization noting the growing concerns
about environmental safety, health and welfare matters in the
ship recycling industry, and the need to reduce the environmental,
occupational health and safety risks related to ship recycling
and, at the same time, securing the smooth withdrawal of ships
that have reached the end of their operating lives, has taken
swift action in the development of a realistic, pragmatic, well-balanced,
workable and effective solution to the problem of ship recycling
which will take into account the particular characteristics of
the world of maritime transport.
3. By Assembly resolution A.962(23)[1]
IMO adopted the Guidelines on Ship Recycling and invited Governments
to take urgent action to apply these Guidelines, including the
dissemination thereof to the shipping and ship recycling industries,
and to report to the Marine Environment Protection Committee on
any experience gained in their implementation.
4. It should also be noted that the Marine
Environment Protection Committee, at its 50th session, having
realized that the amendments to MARPOL Annex I in the wake of
the Prestige would increase the number of the vessels to be recycled
within a specific period of time, which implies an increased need
for ship recycling facilities and capabilities, adopted resolution
MEPC.113(50) recommending that initiatives should be taken to
maintain adequate ship recycling facilities at world-wide level
and to promote research and development programmes to improve
environment and safety levels in ship recycling operations [see
Annex A].
5. Ship recycling remains a high priority
on the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee work programme
and intensive work is currently under way with the objective to
promote the implementation of the Guidelines, assess their effectiveness
and review them, if necessary.
6. IMO is also committed to continue and
strengthen co-operation with ILO and the appropriate bodies of
the Basel Convention, pursuing a co-ordinated approach to the
relevant aspects of ship recycling with the aim of avoiding duplication
of work and overlapping of responsibilities and competencies between
the three Organizations. The approval by MEPC at its last session
in March 2004 of the establishment of a of a Joint ILO/IMO/Basel
Convention Working Group which should act as a platform for consultation,
co-ordination and co-operation in relation to the work programme
and activities of ILO, IMO and the Conference of Parties to the
Basel Convention with regard to issues related to ship recycling
is a good example and evidence of this enhanced co-operation at
the international level.
International Maritime Organization
May 2004
Annex A
RESOLUTION MEPC.113(50) Adopted on 4 December
2003
SHIP RECYCLING FOR THE SMOOTH IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE AMENDMENTS TO ANNEX I OF MARPOL 73/78
THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,
RECALLING Article 38 of the Convention of the
International Maritime Organization concerning the function of
the MEPC,
HAVING adopted the amendments to Annex I of
MARPOL 73/78 which would accelerate the phase-out of single-hull
oil tankers, prohibit the carriage of heavy grade oil in single-hull
oil tankers, and extend the Condition Assessment Scheme,
REALIZING that these new requirements would
increase the number of the vessels to be recycled within a specific
period of time, which implies an increased need for ship recycling
facilities and capabilities,
NOTING the growing concerns about environment,
safety, health, and welfare matters in ship recycling industry,
and the need to reduce the environmental, occupational health
and safety risks related to ship recycling at the same time securing
the smooth withdrawal of ships that have reached the end of their
operating lives,
NOTING ALSO the role of the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), the Basel Convention and other stakeholders
in ship recycling and on-going co-operation by these organizations
and the IMO,
RECOGNIZING that in order to contribute towards
improvements in ship recycling, it is necessary to consider the
full life cycle of the ship, and that the adoption of the IMO
Guidelines on Ship Recycling by the twenty-third Assembly makes
a first step for the IMO to this direction,
1. RECOMMENDS that Member Governments, especially
the Governments of countries with shipbuilding, ship recycling
and other shipping interests:
(a) take initiatives to maintain adequate
ship recycling facilities at world-wide level, based on the evaluation
of the impact of the amendments to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 on
the demand for ships to be recycled; and
(b) endeavour to promote research and development
programmes to improve environment and safety level in ship recycling
operation,
2. REQUESTS the Secretary-General:
(a) to consider any further action which
may be taken to assist Member Governments and particularly developing
countries in facilitating ship recycling and reducing environmental
and safety risks involved in recycling operations; and
(b) to continue and strengthen co-operation
with ILO and the appropriate bodies of the Basel Convention, and
take initiatives as a co-ordinating body among related agencies
in addressing problems within the respective competence of these
organizations, bearing in mind the potential impact which various
guidelines and regulations would have on ship recycling.
International Maritime Organization
May 2004
1 http://www.imo.org/includes/blastDataOnly.asp/data_id%3D8948/962.pdf Back
| 
