8.3 Preparation of a ship for recycling

  8.3.1.1 The preparation of a ship for recycling should address occupational safety and health, environmental issues and the safe operation of the ship prior to and on its final voyage to the recycling facility. Conditions on the ship that may threaten worker safety at the recycling facility should, to the extent practicable, be identified by the shipowner, seeking assistance from other parties if required, and either be rectified or reported to the recycling facility to ensure that appropriate safety precautions are taken. Ideally, a facility should be capable of recycling the whole ship in a responsible way.

  8.3.1.2 With regard to potentially hazardous materials which cannot be safely removed and properly disposed of by the purchasing recycling facility, the shipowner should, consistent with the safe operation of the ship, either:

• .1 remove these materials from the ship elsewhere in a manner that is consistent with relevant national and international legislation and relevant guidelines; or

• .2 minimize these materials in amount and location and report to the recycling facility to ensure that suitable arrangements can be made for their reclamation, recycling or disposal.

  8.3.1.3 The preparation of the ship for recycling is, to a large extent, dependent on the capabilities of the recycling facility and the requirements of the relevant national authority as referred to in section 8.1.1 of these Guidelines.

  8.3.2.1 The preparation of the ship for recycling should begin before the ship arrives at the recycling facility and the recycling facility should work with the shipowner before the delivery of the ship in determining the extent of pre-recycling work that is desirable.

  8.3.2.2 The development and implementation of a recycling plan can help ensure that a ship has been prepared to the maximum extent possible prior to its recycling and that the safety of the ship, prior to delivery, has been taken into account. The plan should be developed by the recycling facility in consultation with the shipowner, taking into account the potential hazards which may arise during the recycling operation, the relevant national and international requirements and the facilities available at the relevant recycling facility in terms of materials, handling and the disposal of any wastes generated during the recycling process.

  8.3.2.3 A major purpose of the plan is to ensure that wastes potentially contributing to pollution of the environment or potential hazards to worker health and safety, are properly identified and handled.

  8.3.2.4 The recycling plan should take into account inter alia:

• .1 the Green Passport (section 5);

• .2 any technical advice from the shipbuilder;

• .3 details of the ship's operational equipment and potential sources, amounts and relative hazards of potential contaminants (including chemical and biological) that may be released to the environment as indicated by the inventory; and

• .4 potential hazards to worker safety that may arise during the recycling operation.

  8.3.2.5 Agreement to implement the recycling plan should be part of the contract between shipowner and facility.

  8.3.2.6 Technical considerations to assist in developing the ship recycling plan include, but are not limited to, the following:

• .1 suggestions for planning work;

• .2 general notes on salvage;

• .3 ship stability during clean-up and transits;

• .4 tank cleaning;

• .5 cleaning compartments with bilges;

• .6 dealing with piping and fittings;

• .7 cleaning fitted machinery;

• .8 suggestions on handling waste.

  8.3.3.1 The last owner of a ship sold for recycling should, consistent with the safe operation of the ship:

• .1 minimize the quantities of fuel, diesel, lubricating, hydraulic and other oils and chemicals on board at delivery to the facility;

• .2 if the facility is not equipped with reception facilities, remove wastes at the last port with reception facilities before delivery of the ship to the recycling facility;

• .3 ensure that the Green Passport is completed in accordance with section 5;

• .4 take measures to facilitate the controlled drainage, by the recycling facility, of potentially harmful liquids from the ship; and

• .5 take measures to ensure that the ship's ballast water is managed in accordance with the relevant international or national standards and requirements.

  8.3.3.2 Among the items which may be considered by the shipowner in consultation with the recycling facility in accordance with paragraph 8.3.1 prior to recycling, consistent with the safe operation of the ship, are:

• .1 the removal and safe disposal of asbestos or, alternatively, the clear marking of any Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) or Presumed Asbestos Containing Materials (PACMs);

• .2 the discharge of halon to an approved facility and the use of portable and returnable fire-fighting equipment for the final voyage to the recycling site;

• .3 the removal of materials remaining in tanks or piping, to the maximum extent possible (including fuel, lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, cargoes and their residues, and grease). Drummed, tanked, or canned liquids or gaseous materials should be removed from the ship. All materials removed should be managed in an environmentally sound manner (e.g., recycling and, in certain cases, onshore incineration);

• .4 the removal of equipment containing liquid PCBs;

• .5 the identification of capacitors and transformers containing dielectric fluid;

• .6 the removal of residues from parts of the ship used for storage of fuel or chemical stocks such as tanks (these areas should be flushed and cleaned);

• .7 the provision of advice on the nature of any hazardous materials on board, as in the inventory of potential hazardous materials; and

• .8 the clear marking of other potentially hazardous materials and spaces on board the ship.

  8.3.4.1 Prior to recycling, the shipowner should, in accordance with paragraph 8.3.1 and consistent with the safe operation of the ship:

• .1 in connection with the delivery of a ship, provide or arrange for a gas-free certificate or hot work safe certification as applicable, issued by a relevant and appropriate body, for enclosed spaces on board ship (It should be recognized that any such certification is valid only at the time it is issued and that such certification should not discourage the ship recycling facility from conducting their own inspections of such areas);

• .2 ensure that any compartments on the ship which may contain an oxygen-deficient atmosphere are clearly marked as such, and that the facility is duly notified of these and other hazardous enclosed spaces. (This should not preclude or discourage recycling facilities from conducting similar inspections);

• .3 ensure that any area of the ship where there may be structural integrity problems (e.g., collision damage) are identified and their location indicated to avoid collapses and accidents; and

• .4 ensure that any area of the ship where there are critical support structures that should be dismantled in a way that avoids accidental structural collapse are identified and their location indicated.

  8.3.4.2 Guidance with regard to safe working practices and procedures for hot work and entry into enclosed spaces on board ships which are provided in circular MSC/Circ.1084 "Principles for hot work on board all types of ships" and in Assembly resolution A.864(20) "Recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships", are presented in Appendices 4 and 5 to these Guidelines.