China Navigation Company: Recycling cargo ships responsibly.

When CNCo needed to recycle four general cargo ships, they asked us for help. It was key that leading industry practice was applied before, during and after recycling, in keeping with the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable operations.

We brought over 25 years’ knowledge of ship recycling legislation, standards, practices and projects to our client. This included our background as the International Association of Classification Societies' ship recycling representative at the International Maritime Organization. Here, we were instrumental in developing the ISO 30000 management system standard for ship recycling facilities.

During the project, our client benefited from having a multi-disciplinary team of experts on hand. This included our marine ship recycling and Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) specialists, alongside our local ship surveyors and environmental auditors.

We organised our support into three main stages:

• providing a pre-assessment of our client’s ship recycling facility plan

• conducting inspections before, during and after the recycling of each ship

• issuing the appropriate documents for IHM approval and in accordance with the Hong Kong Convention, including completion of recycling statements of compliance, ready for recycling paperwork and a final survey report.

Our support helped CNCo to:

• demonstrate best practice

• limit business liabilities

• further enhance the company’s reputation as a leading, responsible shipowner.

“Our decision to avoid using recycling by beaching, due to environmental and human health concerns, required a paradigm shift in the old shipping business mind-set; we are taking responsibility for an asset and how it is treated. We did this simply because it is the right thing to do.”

Simon Bennett

General Manager for Sustainable Development, CNCo