Bangladesh’s ship recycling sector set for overhaul

In a significant move towards enhancing safety and environmental standards, Bangladesh is revising its ship recycling and hazardous waste management laws. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced these draft amendments, aiming to align the country’s shipbreaking industry with international regulations. This initiative is crucial for ensuring that ship recycling practices in Bangladesh meet global environmental standards and safety requirements.

The proposed amendments were discussed during a workshop held in Dhaka in February 2025. Key stakeholders from both the government and private sectors participated in this event. Their goal was to explore ways to align the shipbreaking sector with the “Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships,” which Bangladesh ratified in 2023. The workshop also addressed how to comply with essential provisions of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm conventions.

This initiative is part of the IMO’s Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling (SENSREC) project, funded by the Government of Norway. The project’s overarching aim is to support developing countries in implementing the Hong Kong Convention and promoting sustainable practices in ship recycling. Following the workshop, the insights and feedback gathered will be compiled into a draft proposal by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Industries. This proposal will then be circulated to relevant government branches for final feedback before submission for approval.

Challenges and Opportunities in Ship Recycling

The regulatory efforts to improve ship recycling practices come at a critical time for the global industry. With thousands of vessels expected to reach the end of their operational lives by 2032, there is increasing pressure to ensure that shipbreaking practices adhere to higher safety and environmental standards. The enforcement of the Hong Kong Convention, set to begin in June this year, is anticipated to play a significant role in this transition.

However, concerns persist regarding the convention’s effectiveness in addressing the hazardous conditions that continue to exist in some recycling hubs. A recent guidance paper from the Norway-based classification society DNV emphasizes the importance of the convention while also highlighting ongoing challenges. These challenges are particularly evident in regions like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, where shipbreaking has been associated with unsafe working environments and ecological risks.

Ship Recycling Needs to Pick Up for Shipping to Lower Emissions

Data from the Belgium-headquartered NGO Shipbreaking Platform reveals that these three South Asian countries accounted for the highest number of commercial and offshore units being scrapped on their beaches. In 2023, a staggering 85% of the global end-of-life fleet was dismantled on beaches in these nations. Furthermore, the NGO reported that as much as 80% of scrapped ships in 2024 were dismantled under substandard conditions in the same regions.

Bangladesh has consistently ranked as the leading destination for ship scrapping. However, the country’s shipbreaking and recycling sector has come under scrutiny due to a series of accidents linked to poor working conditions. Despite being certified under the Hong Kong Convention’s guidelines, a yard in Chattogram made headlines when a tanker exploded during dismantling operations in September 2024, resulting in injuries to 12 workers, six of whom tragically lost their lives. This incident underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement of safety regulations and better oversight of certified yards in Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry.