#Regulations

Ship Recycling Standards: HKC Compliance as a Bridge, Not the Final Destination

Capt. Soumitro Roy of EEC argues that Hong Kong International Convention (HKC) compliance, while representing progress in ship recycling standards, should not be treated as the industry's final destination. He contends that legal compliance and industrial transformation are distinct, and that higher standards—including full pollutant containment, dock-based dismantling, and zero-discharge operations—are achievable and increasingly demanded by banks, insurers, and regulators. The article emphasizes that technological advancement in ship recycling, like containerization in cargo handling, can continue without eliminating economic importance.