The second phase of an IMO-implemented project to enhance safe and environmentally sound ship recycling in Bangladesh has been launched at a meeting of stakeholders in Dhaka, Bangladesh recently.
The 19-month project is funded under a US$1.1 million agreement with the Government of Norway.
It focuses on building capacity within Bangladesh to develop a legal, policy and institutional reform roadmap towards accession to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (known as the Hong Kong Convention).
The project will build on the first phase of the Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling in Bangladesh (SENSREC) Project.
Speaking at the Dhaka meeting, Her Excellency Sidsel Bleken, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh, highlighted the significant progress made and their support for phase II of the project.
“The Government of Bangladesh, the ship recycling industry as well as the international ship-owners, have a joint responsibility in making this happen.”
Bangladesh is one the world’s top five ship recycling countries by capacity, alongside China, India, Pakistan and Turkey.
Together they accounted for 98% of known ship recycling in the world.
Ship recycling is key for the local economy and produces large quantities of steel and other materials which are recycled and sold on.
Bangladesh ship recycling – SENSREC Phase II Project
The SENSREC Phase II Project will continue to support Bangladesh to comply with international requirements and guide Bangladesh towards accession to the IMO ship recycling treaty, namely the Hong Kong Convention.
The Hong Kong Convention sets the international standards for ship recycling and, when in force, will ensure that ships do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety or the environment when being recycled at the end of their operational lives.
Bangladesh will be assisted to build the capacity to develop and implement a legal, policy and institutional roadmap towards accession to the Hong Kong Convention.
A variety of stakeholders will be trained within a well-functioning training system to lay the foundation for an effective and sustainable training programme for the ship recycling sector in Bangladesh.
Two core work packages form the basis of the project.
The first focuses on building the national capacities to prepare for accession to the Hong Kong Convention, through three interconnecting activities.
- Assessing the present situation
- Exploring current best practices in other ship recycling countries
- Identifying recommendations and a roadmap to guide the Government of Bangladesh towards accession to the Hong Kong Convention
The second work package will deliver targeted pilot training activities in line with the Hong Kong Convention requirements, establishing a robust training management and governance system and delivering training activities developed for various stakeholders and workforces.
