Hong Kong convention finally gets first signing

First Secretary Kristin Stockman, of the Royal Norwegian Embassy to the United Kingdom, deposited Norway’s instrument of accession at IMO headquarters.

The Hong Kong convention, designed to ensure that ships do not pose unnecessary risk to human health or the environment, was cited in the recent veto of a compulsory scrapping levy in the EU, with industry representatives expressing concern that it will never be ratified if the bill went ahead. Norway’s signature represents a landmark for the convention.

Following the signing, the treaty still needs ratification from 14 States, representing 40% of world tonnage, with a combined maximum annual ship recycling volume not less than 3% of their combined tonnage.

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