In 1998, the Pulitzer Prize was awarded to Gary Cohn and Will Englund of the Baltimore Sun for their compelling series on the international shipbreaking industry. They revealed the dangers posed to workers and the environment when discarded ships are dismantled. The prize started the ball rolling, and last year the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) decided to develop a ship recycling convention which is expected to be finalised and adopted in 2008-2009.

The convention relates to the growing concern for, and need to reduce the risk from environmental safety, health and welfare matters in the ship recycling industry. At the same time a smooth withdrawal of ships that have reached the end of their operating lives must be secured.

A mandatory regime for all ships is expected from IMO in the future with regards to inventories; lists of potentially hazardous materials onboard. This is known as a Green Passports, specifying hazardous materials in the ship’s structure and equipment. Prior to being delivered to a recycling facility, an inventory of stores and operationally generated wastes and cargo residues are to be added as well.

Several shipowners are now choosing to be at the forefront of future requirements and take the ship recycling perspective seriously, as regards both newbuildings and ships in operation.

Statement of compliance
An inventory study starts off by obtaining all available documentation, following which a survey is carried out. Samples are taken and analysed in accredited laboratories. Based on these, a statement of compliance – a Green Passport – is issued describing what is found on board.

Three Maersk inventories
Maersk Line, Limited has chosen to have DNV carry out inventories on three of its ships in operation.
“This is in line with Maersk’s policy of being green and environmentally friendly. In all aspects of the life cycle of our vessels, we want to contribute to a good result for both the environment and the people involved,” says naval architect Lars Bygholm in Maersk Line, Limited.

Based on offshore experience
DNV’s experience with inventories started in 1994 with the Brent Spar loading buoy. In late 1990s, after 25 offshore inventories, it was decided to transfer the concept to ships. Since then DNV has carried out inventories on about 15 vessels.

Explains Lars Bygholm, “The way DNV is doing this is good, both practical and pragmatic. While a Green Passport is ideal for a newbuilding, it is much tougher for ships in operation, which may be up to 20 years old. DNV has taken a solid, practical approach by combining their knowledge gained through document reviews, sampling of materials and leveraging their experience to assess the total content onboard.”

With assistance from DNV, Maersk Line, Limited is now in the process of qualifying its own designated person in order to be more flexible when it comes to doing future surveys, which could be done for instance during a docking.
“We also want to have an expert internally up to speed on current and future requirements,” says Lars Bygholm.