The Japanese government has ratified the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of ships.
Koji Tsuruoka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, delivered the instrument of accession to IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim today.
With the addition of Japan, 10 countries have now ratified the convention.
Other countries that have signed up include Norway, Congo, France, Belgium, Panama, Denmark, Turkey, Netherlands and Serbia.
But the Hong Kong Convention requires 15 states to sign up plus major ship recycling nations before it will enter into force.
The Japan maritime industries have strongly supported the Hong Kong convention which was first adopted in Hong Kong 10 years ago.
Back in 2008 Japanese classification society ClassNK released software for shipbuilders to generate an inventory of hazardous materials for newbuildings.
ClassNK has published a "Guideline for Ship Recycling" based on the Hong Kong Convention and issued a Statement of Compliance to facilities mainly in India that met its standards.
The Japanese Shipowner’s Association is also recycling ships at yards which have a Statement of Compliance with the Hong Kong Convention.
The Japanese government also has an ongoing technical cooperation programme to assist Indian shipbreakers to improve.
