The Hong Kong Convention enters into force on June 26, 2025

• ensure that ships, when being recycled, do not pose unnecessary risks to human health, safety and the environment;
• regulate the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling practices;
• establish mandatory requirements for ship recycling facilities to meet internationally agreed upon safety and environmental standards.

The Hong Kong Convention applies to Member States’ flagged ships and recycling facilities operating under the jurisdiction of countries party to the Convention. A key instrument is the implementation of an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) determined in the Convention and approved by the flag State administration or a recognized organization. The IHM is to be maintained and updated throughout the life cycle of vessels:

• contracted for construction as of June 26, 2025 (in the absence of a contract – ships whose keel is laid no later than 6 months or that are delivered no later than 30 months after the Convention enters into force);
• contracted for construction before June 26, 2025 – in this case, the IHM is to be developed no later than 5 years after the Convention enters into force, i.e. June 26, 2030, or prior to the ship’s recycling.

The Hong Kong Convention excludes ships of less than 500GT, vessels operating solely on domestic routes, as well as warships, military auxiliary vessels and other ships used for non-commercial government service.

Compliance with the Convention will be monitored via surveys and the presence on board of a valid International Certificate on the List of Hazardous Materials issued on the initial survey of the ship. Thereafter, the renewal survey must confirm that Part I of the IHM complies with the provisions of regulations 5 of the Annex to the Hong Kong Convention as amended. Prior to the vessel’s disposal, a final survey is to be carried out and an International Certificate of Readiness for Disposal issued.

Ship recycling facilities in the jurisdiction of State Parties are to be authorized by competent national authorities and are required to dispose of ships in line with the requirements of the Convention. Certified recycling facilities operating under a Ship Recycling Facility Plan are to develop individual Ship Recycling Plans tailored for each vessel in accordance to their IHM.

The status of this and other IMO conventions can be found on official IMO resources.

Please note that documents confirming a vessel's compliance with the Hong Kong Convention do not replace the documents required by Regulation (EU) No. 1257/2013 on Ship Recycling (EU-SRR). EU-flagged ships or other vessels calling at ports or anchorages of EU member states must ensure compliance with the requirements of the EU-SRR and have relevant supporting documents.

The Russian Federation is not currently a signatory to the Hong Kong Convention. However, vessels calling at ports of State Parties will be inspected by port authorities for compliance with its provisions. For its part, RS carries out surveys, approves documentation and issues certificates of compliance with the Hong Kong Convention.