Standards assist stakeholders in recycling ships

ISO has launched the first document of a series of management system standards for the recycling of ships. The series, ISO 30000, Ship recycling management systems, will support environmental protection and increase the safety of workers.

Ship recycling contributes to the global conservation of energy and resources. However, the presence of asbestos, hydrocarbons and other environmentally hazardous substances in ships can, if the scrapping process is not carefully controlled, have negative repercussions for the environment and human health.

The series therefore aims to provide assistance to organisations implementing or improving a ship recycling management system through guidance on the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibilities and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes.

“ISO 30000 has been developed to assist stakeholders — large and small — in the uniform implementation of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) requirements on ship recycling. The series of standards will increase transparency, facilitate trade, provide a clear reference for industry and constitute a valuable risk assessment tool. These ISO standards can be used by any organisation and for ships of all types and sizes, everywhere, employed in international and domestic trades alike,” Capt. Charles Piersall, chair of ISO technical committee ISO/TC 8, Ships and marine technology, said.

These standards will be useful for the ship recycling industry, shipyards, shipping industries, ship owners, maritime research institutes, universities for maritime technology, ministries of shipping, navy, labour and the environment, port authorities, classification societies and inspection agencies.

The first document in the series, ISO/PAS 30000:2008, Ships and marine technology — Ship recycling management systems — Specifications for management systems for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling facilities, is now accessible as a publicly available specification (PAS) while awaiting publication as a full international standard.

The document details specifications for implementing and managing safe, legally complying and environmentally conscious recycling facilities.

Other standards in the series, currently under development, will address best practice, assessments and plans, guidelines for the selection of ship recyclers, requirements for certification and audit bodies, information for the control of hazardous materials and methods for removing such materials, including asbestos. These documents are expected to be available later this year as PAS.