EU Ship Recycling Regulation – Compliance & Inventories of Hazardous Materials

8 July 2020

The European Union (EU) Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR) came into force in 2018 and aims to reduce the adverse impact on health and the environment of recycling ships at the end of their use. The SRR requires all EU flagged vessels and non EU flagged vessels calling at any EU member state to have – from 31 December 2020 - an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) on board.

The IHM consists of the following:
 
  • Part I: Materials contained in the vessel itself, or equipment
  • Part II: Operationally generated waste
  • Part III: Stores on board the vessel
Shipping industry organisations have jointly developed Guidelines on the preparation/steps to develop the IHM. Owner members should take steps at the earliest opportunity to ensure compliance with the EU SRR in view of the approaching deadline and potential restrictions on physical inspections arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guidelines are available here.

The IMO 2015 Guidelines for the development of the IHM are available here.

The European Commission’s page on Ship Recycling can be accessed here, including links to the latest European List of ship recycling facilities and the European Maritime Safety Agency’s Guidance with technical and procedural guidance on the matter.