BIMCO, the world's largest international shipping association, has launched a Ship Recycling Alliance to help accelerate the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.

The alliance will coordinate the voices of the ship recycling and shipping industries and help facilitate the global implementation of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).

The HKC will enter into force in June 2025, which comes at a time when more than 15,000 ships are estimated to be recycled over the next 10 years, and the need for compliant yards from main recycling states such as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan is critical.

BIMCO said today only a minority of shipowners choose voluntary HKC-compliant recycling. Therefore, it is crucial to coordinate the voices of the industries.

"Part of the ship recycling industry is already trying to live up to the HKC standards ahead of its entry into force. To succeed in having our ships recycled responsibly and safely for people and the environment, we need all stakeholders to engage and step up the pace. The Ship Recycling Alliance will connect stakeholders, advise regulators and create awareness among the public," said David Loosley, secretary general & CEO of BIMCO.

Therefore, an important task will be to liaise with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Secretariat of the Basel Convention (BC) and the states that are party to these organisations to seek legal clarity on the interaction between both conventions.

This will include assessing, considering and responding to any proposals for future amendments to the HKC, and providing support for the implementation and enforcement of the BC requirements for the management of waste originating from the ship’s recycling process.

"It is high time for an initiative like the Ship Recycling Alliance to be launched and put to work," said Dr Nikos Mikelis, non-executive director of GMS, former IMO Head, Marine Pollution Prevention and Ship Recycling, Marine Environment Division and Chairperson of the alliance.

"We need an alliance that can formulate and represent the views of the international ship recycling industry and connect that with all other stakeholders involved. Doing so, we strongly believe we can move forward and fuel progress," he added.

The founding members of the alliance are BIMCO, the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA), the Turkish Ship Recycling Industry Association (GEMISANDER), global cash buyer GMS, ship recycling services' company Guideship, Pakistan Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (PSBRA), the Ship Recycling Industries Association of India (SRIA), the International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA), global cash buyer Wirana and Indian ship recycling group, Bansal Group.

BIMCO said members could include representatives of ship recycling associations, individual ship recycling facilities, cash buyers, financial institutions and shipowners.