THE RECYCLING OF SHIPS ACT, 2019
An Act to provide for the regulation of recycling of ships by setting certain standards and laying
down the statutory mechanism for enforcement of such standards and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto.
WHEREAS, the International Maritime Organisation adopted the Hong Kong International Convention
for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 which ensures that ships, when being
recycled after the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to the environment and
to human health and safety;
AND WHEREAS, the said Convention was developed with inputs from International Maritime
Organisation Member States, Non-Governmental Organisations and in co-operation with the International
Labour Organisation and the Parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, 1989;
AND WHEREAS, the Hong Kong Convention lays down the aspects relating to design, construction,
operation and preparation of ships so as to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without
compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships and the establishment of an appropriate
enforcement mechanism for recycling of ships;
AND WHEREAS, the said Convention contains the provisions which are not covered in the Shipbreaking Code (Revised), 2013 notified by the Government of India to regulate the recycling of ships in
India;
AND WHEREAS, the said Convention lays down the multilateral framework to be followed
internationally by countries which become a party to it;
AND WHEREAS, India, being a Member-State of the International Maritime Organisation, had
participated in the said Convention and expressed views for the protection of environment and human
health and safety during the process of recycling of ships;
AND WHEREAS, it is considered expedient to accede to the aforesaid Convention now and to have an
appropriate legislation on issues relating to the recycling of ships.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventieth Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
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