3.2 Facility operation

 The SRFP should provide a clear and concise description of the physical location of the Facility, including acreage and Facility access routes. A detailed Ship Recycling Facility drawing or map should be included, with information regarding the area where recycling will occur. The SRFP should include a clear and concise description of the pertinent details of the Ship Recycling Facility, such as Facility layout, water depth, accessibility, maintenance and dredging.

 The SRFP should include a clear and concise description of the total estimated ship recycling capacity, the production throughput/capacity of recyclables including steel and engineering features for material segregation and processing. Temporary and permanent buildings such as offices, workers' complex, drinking water supply, sanitation, medical and first-aid facilities, gas storage and Hazardous Materials storage and processing facilities should be identified, as should the floor construction, other structures, roadways and emergency access routes.

 The SRFP should include a clear and concise description of the pertinent details of the principle operational equipment in use at the Ship Recycling Facility. It is recommended that this should include the quantity, capacity and type of such equipment and other pertinent information such as test certificates, safe working loads and qualifications of operators, in relation to worker safety and protection of the environment.

 An example of Facility information is given in appendix 2, which also covers the guidance contained in section 3.2.2 ("Permits, licences and certification").

 The SRFP should document the procedures in place to ensure that the Ship Recycling Facility is operated and maintained in a manner that complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

 The SRFP should include information on site-specific permits, licences, and/or certificates that are in effect or obtained prior to the start of ship recycling, including any lease or authorization from a landowner, port or other entity granting authorization to use the Facility for ship recycling purposes.

 The SRFP should include procedures to ensure the appropriate level of certification and/or verification in order that all subcontractors (including those involved in handling, transport, treatment, storage and disposal) hold valid permits, registrations and/or certificates, as applicable.

 The use of subcontractors for any part of the process of working with or managing Hazardous Materials in the Ship Recycling Facility does not relieve the Ship Recycling Facility of its responsibilities. In all matters covered by these guidelines, the Ship Recycling Facility should ensure and maintain records to document safe and environmentally sound management by subcontractors.

 The Convention contains requirements for the acceptance of ships for recycling. The SRFP should describe the processes and procedures to be implemented before the ship arrives at the Ship Recycling Facility for recycling.

 When preparing to receive a ship for recycling, the first step shall be to notify the Competent Authority(ies) of the intent (see regulation 24.2). When the ship destined to be recycled has acquired the International Ready for Recycling Certificate, the Ship Recycling Facility shall report to its Competent Authority(ies) the planned start date of the ship recycling, using the reporting format in appendix 6 of the Convention. The procedures to be followed by stakeholders from the recycling preparation phase to the completion of recycling, as required by the Convention, are illustrated in appendix 3 of these guidelines.

 Under regulation 9 of the Convention, a ship-specific Ship Recycling Plan (SRP) shall be developed by the Ship Recycling Facility before any recycling of a ship can take place. The operational processes that are indicated in the SRFP can be used to prepare the SRP. The Convention requires that the SRP should be approved, in accordance with regulation 9, prior to issuance of an International Ready for Recycling Certificate. The SRFP should describe the process for developing a SRP, taking into account the Guidelines for the Development of the Ship Recycling Plan (SRP).

 The SRFP should describe the procedures to be implemented to secure vessels upon arrival at the Ship Recycling Facility, including provisions for mooring, heavy and/or severe weather contingencies, afloat monitoring, stability during recycling and flooding and/or sinking prevention methods. Provisions may be different depending on the ship recycling method.

 The SRFP should provide a comprehensive description of the Ship Recycling Facility's ship recycling methodology, covering the entire process of recycling a vessel including management of Hazardous Materials and wastes and a description of the methodology and procedures for identifying and segregating materials. The SRFP should also include a detailed description of how recycled materials, reusable items and wastes are handled and/or disposed of in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

 The SRFP should include procedures for conducting assessments of the hazards associated with the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships and should identify the subsequent process for minimizing and eliminating any such hazards.

 Where materials or wastes are removed from the Ship Recycling Facility for further processing and/or disposal, the SRFP should provide details of the procedures that will be used to ensure that they are transferred only to a facility that is authorized to deal with their treatment and/or disposal in an environmentally sound manner.

 Regulation 25 of the Convention contains requirements for reporting upon completion. The SRFP should describe the procedures in place for such reporting, including how the Ship Recycling Facility will document and report any incidents and accidents.