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National Authority for Recycling of Ships

Topics Covered: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

National Authority for Recycling of Ships:

Context:

The Centre has notified the directorate general of shipping as the National authority for recycling of ships.

  • The notification was issued under the section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019.

 Roles and functions:

  • As an apex body, DG Shipping is authorized to administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to ship recycling in the country.
  • It will also be the final authority for the various approvals required by the ship-recycling yard owners and state governments.

Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling:

Under Ship Recycling Act, 2019, India has acceded to Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling under International Maritime Organization (IMO).

  • IMO adopted the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships in 2009.
  • The guidelines are aimed at ensuring that ships, being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety and the environment.

Please note, the Convention is yet to come into force because it has not been ratified by 15 nations, representing 40 per cent of the world merchant shipping by gross tonnage (capacity) and a maximum annual ship recycling volume of not less than 3 per cent of the combined tonnage of the countries.

Recycling of ships in India and neighbours:

  • India is the largest ship-breaking player in the world, recycling around 70 lakh gross tonnage every year, followed closely by Bangladesh.
  • Pakistan and China are the third and fourth largest players.

Around 800 vessels are sent for breaking every year around the world. India accounts for around 30% of that work, with an average 250 ships recycled majorly at centre in Alang, Gujarat.

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

  1. Hong Kong Convention is related to?
  2. Has it entered into force?
  3. About IMO.
  4. Who is the National authority for recycling of ships  in India?
  5. Overview of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019.

Sources: the Hindu.