Components and Structure of the Statement of Compliance in Ship Breaking

To make shipbreaking more accountable and transparent there is a need for a statutory body to monitor the activities of ship recycling activities. The statement of compliance in shipbreaking is a document issued by a shipbreaking facility, showing its compliance with international and national regulations, standards, and guidelines related to shipbreaking activities. R.L. Kalthia digs deeper into the Components and Structure of the Statement of Compliance in Ship Breaking through this blog and sheds light on its significance. 

The statement of compliance acts as evidence that a shipbreaking facility is following the environmental, health, and safety requirements during the ship-breaking process. It comprises the facility’s infrastructure, safety measures, waste management practices, worker protection measures, environmental safeguards, and other safety-related aspects. Using this blog you will gain valuable insights into the Components and Structure of the Statement of Compliance in Ship. 

Different Regulatory Bodies Involved in Issuing The Statement of Compliance 

There are various governing bodies looking after the issuing of statements of compliance in ship recycling. The regulatory body depends on the jurisdiction and the regulations followed by the shipbreaking facility. It is mandatory for all the ship recycling facilities to comply with the authorities in their area and get a statement of compliance from the appropriate regulatory body in their respective jurisdiction. Let’s discuss the recognized regulatory bodies involved in granting the state of compliance: 

International Maritime Organization (IMO): IMO is an international organization, governed by the United Nations. It supervises the safety and security of international shipping and actively works to prevent rising marine pollution. IMO is involved in framing rules and regulations mentioned in the state of compliance and is also the organizing body of the Hong Kong International Convention. 

Flag State Administrations: The Government of a State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly is known as the flag state administration. They are also responsible for granting the statement of compliance or supervising the whole process. 

National Environmental Agencies: Each nation has one or many National Environmental Agencies to look after the environmental regulations, carry out inspections, and issue state of compliance for ship recycling facilities. For example; the Ministry of Environment in India and the Environment Protection Agency in the United States. 

Components of State of Compliance in Ship Recycling Activities

The components of shipbreaking activities are dependent on the regulations and guidelines followed by the ship recycling facilities. However, a few components common to all the statements of compliance are mentioned below: 

Facility Information: No statement of compliance is complete without the information about the ship recycling facility. The document mentions the name, address, contact information, and certifications or accreditations acquired since its inception. 

Safety Measures: This specific section includes all the safety equipment used by the workers, from a particular facility. It enlists personal protective equipment (PPE), training programs, emergency response plans, and fire prevention measures used in the ship recycling facility. 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance: The statement of compliance should mention if the shipbreaking facility follows all the applicable laws and regulations related to shipbreaking activities. It can also reference specific guidelines laid by the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships or local environmental and labor regulations.

Monitoring and Auditing: This section mentions the capacity of a ship recycling facility to carry out on-time auditing to ensure compliance with all the international, national, and local shipbreaking standards. As per this component, the ship recycling facility should conduct regular inspections, data collection, and reporting mechanisms.

Environmental Protection: The state of compliance should also cover the ship’s recycling adherence to environmental protection regulations while carrying out the ship dismantling activities. It also includes information regarding hazardous material handling procedures, pollution prevention measures, and waste management practices. 

Significance of The State of Compliance in Ship Recycling 

Ship dismantling is a large-scale activity that generates a lot of marine pollution, posing a threat to marine wildlife and human life. In the wake of these harmful environmental implications, a state of compliance is a highly useful tool to keep a check on all shipbreaking activities. The significance of the state of compliance can be elaborated in the following points: 

1. The need for transparency and accountability in si[p recycling gets met through the state of compliance that enlists all the major information regarding any ship recycling facility. 

2. The state of compliance ensures that all the shipbreaking facilities adhere to the international and national rules and regulations laid by the regulatory bodies. 

3. Through a statement of compliance, the worker’s safety and welfare can be promoted. A major section of the document emphasizes the worker’s welfare, safety, health, and accommodation. 

4. The major benefit of the state of compliance is its ability to safeguard and promote environmental regulations. As the document mentions all the actions taken by a shipbreaking facility to safeguard the environment from the harmful toxins released during ship recycling. 

Conclusion 

The shipbreaking activities release many radioactive and toxin chemicals that are a threat to wildlife and human safety. With the use of a statement of compliance, the authorities can easily keep a check on the working of ship recycling facilities and their compliance with international and industrial rules and regulations. You can reach out to R.L. Kalthia for more such information at info@kalthiashipbreaking.com