​Germany is the latest country to ratify the Hong Kong Convention, the treaty of the International Maritime Organisation for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.

The Hong Kong Convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships.

Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards are required to provide a ship recycling plan, specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory.

Currently, ships are generally demolished at beach facilities in Sout East Asia, where work standards for both the environment and workers are often poor.

On the 16th of July, Reinhard Klingen, Director-General Waterways and Shipping in the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure of Germany, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at the IMO Headquarters in London to deposit the instrument of accession.

According to the IMO, the thirteen contracting states to the convention now represent 29.42% of world merchant shipping tonnage. The Convention will enter into force 24 months after ratification by fifteen states, representing 40% of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage.