France is third nation to ratify Hong Kong Convention

Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships has now been ratified by three nations, as France joins DR Congo and Norway over five years since the convention was adopted in 2009.

The convention aims to make the recycling of ships safer for the workforce involved in the dismantling, and also more environmentally friendly through the safe disposal of toxic materials.

Belgium recently voiced its support for the rapid entry into force of the ship recycling regulation, but the convention has not been without critics during its five year history.

The Hong Kong Convention will come into force two years after no fewer than 15 states, representing 40% of the world's gross tonnage have ratified; the convention also stipulates that those nations must have a maximum ship recycling volume for the ten years preceding entry into force of no less than 3% of their combined merchant fleets.