“Green” ship recycling yards at Alang…

The recycling industry has changed dramatically over the last few years. It has developed from being a shameful part of our business to being an area that most modern owner wants to be proud of – in the same way they are proud of the standard of their ships in operation. This change has come in part due to the constant focus from environmental groups and the media and has been made possible with a will to change the international legislation governing this area. In a competitive world, the responsibility we have towards our environment cannot be shouldered by some ship owners alone – it must be a common effort from all players in the industry.

The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in May 2009.

The Convention regulates the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships to allow for safe and environmentally sound recycling. It will also provide strict guidelines for the operation of ship-recycling yards. The Convention dictates that vessels must carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) on-board. Ship-recycling yards will be required to provide a detailed ship recycling plan before work can commence. Member-states will be asked to ensure that facilities under their jurisdiction comply with the Convention.

Green Ship Recycling services is specially designed for the socially responsible ship owners who demand a demolition process that offers safe working environment at the yard, together with safe removal and disposal of hazardous materials on board. The process of green recycling is tedious and requires proper planning and preparation. "Pre-cleaning" is the first requirement prior demolition. Pre-cleaning is the safe removal of all hazardous materials and wastes such as asbestos, fuel oils and lubes, cable insulation and other PCBs, deck coverings and insulation materials, gases and refrigerants (CFC), paints and thinners, stores and spares, fire alarm sensors and radioactive materials and all other hazardous and potentially hazardous materials. An IHM or Green Passport is the pre-requisite prior to the vessel moving to the recycling facilities.

Whilst in the recycling facility, the acceptable approach is "Demolition" which is the actual cutting up of the ship’s steel structure in blocks of manageable sizes. The correct trimming and steel cutting including the removal arrangements are critical. The blocks with oil content and machinery are placed in special areas on shore with proper drainage and containment arrangements. Firefighting procedures and evacuation routes are manned properly.

The process of Pre-Cleaning and Demolition are fully documented in a 'Green Recycle Plan' - a document developed using the IHM or Green Passport with inputs from yard. This plan has to be prepared in advance and is vital towards green recycling.

Two ship-breaking yards from Alang in Gujarat have become the first ship recycling facilities in entire South Asia to be issued Statements of Compliance (SoC) by Japan’s leading classification society, ClassNK, for taking steps for safer and greener ship recycling. This certification comes at a time when most shipbreaking yards at this recycling unit near Bhavnagar have been battling issues of pollution and contamination for last three decades. Overall the companies feel that Class NK certificate holders from Alang will be given priority when they will go for buying ships.

The main objective is to implement a proper health, safety and environmental approach towards ship recycling. It is hoped that Ship Owners and Ship Breakers work in tandem to implement this project thus ensuring a better and healthier living for future generations.