The Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) has "warmly welcomed" Japan’s ratification of the Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) on ship scrapping - but is pushing for more sign-ups.
It said there have been significant improvements in recycling facilities around the world and it "firmly believes that now is the time for action."
Japan ratified the convention last month, the tenth country to do so.
But the Hong Kong Convention requires 15 states to sign up, plus major ship recycling nations, before it will enter into force.
The ASA said: "Geographically-balanced ship recycling can only be achieved by international regulation. It is felt that the HKC is the only internationally-recognised instrument that can achieve this objective."
It urged India and China to ratify the convention in the near future.
"It is our strong desire that all parties recognise and actively promote earliest possible ratification by both India and China as both are key countries to meeting all three of the basic conditions for final enactment of the HKC," it added.
"On the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the HKC, the ASA is convinced of steady progress towards early enactment of the HKC. The ASA welcomes by the recent series of ratification by several countries and that a number of other countries are also in the process of ratification.
"Japan’s ratification will expedite the early enactment of the HKC."
