The increasing number of yards now winning statements of compliance certificates from two leading classification societies is starting to raise concerns.

More than 60 voluntary class statement of compliance certificates have been issued to yards in India and Bangladesh. The accreditations are issued to yards that are assessed to operate to a standard that is compliant with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

Although safety and environmental standards are written into the Hong Kong Convention, the regulation has not yet entered into force.

Japan’s ClassNK started the certification process but Italy’s Rina is now the leading provider of certification to yards in South Asia. Rina has issued 48 certificates compared with 14 by ClassNK. Rina is currently auditing another 11 yards and ClassNK 16.

Asked why Rina had suddenly emerged as the leading provider of certification, Ship Recycling Industries Association India secretary Nitin Kanakiya said it was simply a matter of price.

“Everything is cost and class societies have different rates,” he said.

Bangladesh’s PHP Family, which is headed by managing director Zahirul Islam, said Rina was simply quicker to respond to its request to certify its yard.

Paolo Salza, Rina’s head of compliance, said he was not concerned over the accusation of discounting as long as its success was not perceived as an issue of compromising on quality.

“This means it is not linked with the quality of service,” he said. “We have to compete in any market.”

However, European Commission waste management policy officer Emilien Gasc said he had his concerns over the statement of compliance certification in some cases and had asked both ClassNK and Rina to clarify their position on issuing the certification.

“I wonder how they could have possibly received statement of compliance certification with the Hong Kong Convention,” he said. “We might have a problem here.”

Not only are there issues with ship dismantling in the intertidal zone, but it is understood some yards have statements of compliance without the impermeable floor that is required for the secondary cutting stage.

Without commenting on the specifics of Gasc’s complaint, Salza said the certification must be seen in light of the ongoing improvements being made in the shiprecycling industry. He said Rina’s certification made a “contribution to the continuous improvement in [recycling] standards”.