Regulation (EU) No 1257/2013, often referred to as the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR), entered into force on 30 December 2013.
EU rules require that any EU ship going for dismantling, all new European ships, and third-country ships stopping in EU ports have on board an inventory of hazardous materials. This inventory must specify the location and approximate quantities of those materials. This helps the recycling of vessels and reduces the presence of toxic materials on board ships. Port authorities of EU countries may control ships to verify whether they carry such an inventory together with a necessary certificate.
According to the EUSRR, all existing ships of EU-flags, and ships of non-EU flags calling at an EU port or anchorage, must have on board an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) verified by the relevant authorities or a recognized organization:
- EU-flag ships shall carry on board a ship specific ‘Inventory Certificate’ issued by the flag administration or a RO authorised by it and supplemented by Part I of the IHM. Refer to the EMSA IHM Guidance for details (section 5.2 Development process of the IHM Part I for Existing Ships);
- Non-EU flag ships shall carry on board a ship-specific ‘statement of compliance’ (SoC) issued by the flag authorities or their ROs (e.g. Class Societies) and supplemented by Part I of the IHM; the SoC shall be issued after verification of the IHM.
Guidance on the implementation of ship recycling rules can be referred to at https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/waste-and-recycling/ships_en.
