Feature 6
End-of-life preparation for submarines
Th e implications posed by the forthcoming IMO Convention for the Safe
and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships on the decommissioning
of submarines was the subject of an interesting paper at the recent RINA
Warship conference, which took place in Glasgow in June.
s Dr Trevor Perry, MIEMA CEnv, current standards including those derived will have in the event the new vessel owner
a Principal Consultant, and from: the ILO, an international agency breaches the contractual obligations.
ACynthia Chia, MIEMA CEnv, a forming part of the United Nations
Senior Consultant, both at Frazer-Nash (UN) system governing standards on Vessels for recycling
Consultancy explained, the proposed occupational safety and health standards and disposal
mandatory application of certain elements including those relevant guidelines such Where end-of-life UK Government owned
of the IMO Guidelines on Ship Recycling as ‘Safety & Health in Shipbreaking’; and vessels are destined for recycling, the
and the development of a reporting the Basel Convention. obligation is placed on the vessel owner
system and approval process for ships, By virtue of governing disposal issues, to ensure that: the contract will only be
could have signifi cant implications for the the Basel Convention also informs the tendered to recycling facilities in OECD
decommissioning of submarines. proposed IMO Convention through its countries (in accordance with the Basel
Negative perception and intense relevance to the design and operation Convention); minimum environmental,
international scrutiny of the ship recycling of vessels as well as minimum standards health and safety standards are specifi ed
industry led to the development of the required at ship recycling facilities. Other clearly in the tender documentation
proposed Convention on the Safe & appropriate Basel Convention technical and in the tender evaluation criteria
Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. guidelines for ship recycling processes and [Annex I of 3]; the chosen recycling
The development of the Convention facilities will also inform guidelines issued facility demonstrates adherence to
has been underpinned by a set of guiding under the proposed Convention. IMO/ILO/Basel Convention Guidelines
principles, including: design, construction, Th e UK’s Department of Environment, (representing industry best practice) at
operation and preparation of ships so Food & Rural Aff airs (DEFRA) mandates all stages of recycling; a contract, sales
as to facilitate safe and environmentally the application of its Ship Recycling Strategy agreement and a Ship Recycling Plan
sound recycling, without compromising on all vessels (including submarines) above (issued by the recycling facility) is received
the safety and operational efficiency 500gt, including those owned by the UK prior to dispatch of end-of-life vessels to
of ships; operation of ship recycling Government and its Agencies. the recycling facility; the recycling facility
facilities in a safe and environmentally is presented with an updated Inventory
sound manner; and establishing an Vessels intended for of Hazardous Materials; and provisions
appropriate enforcement mechanism for further use are made for site visits and audits at the
ship recycling incorporating certifi cation With UK Government owned vessels recycling facilities to verify standards of
and reporting requirements. In addition intended for re-sale, the vessel owner has working practice.
to design, construction and end-of-life a responsibility to ensure inclusions in The applicability of the Convention
issues, the new Convention also requires the Terms of Sale placing obligations on requirements to the Ministry of Defence
the minimisation of operationally the new vessel owner to: ensure that the (MOD) vessels is currently yet to be
generated wastes as well as detailed vessel’s Inventory of Hazardous Materials determined. Whilst draft Article 3 of
environmental contingency planning for is kept updated throughout the vessel’s the proposed Convention provides an
in-service vessels. remaining in-service life; obtain advanced exemption for Government owned ships
Many of the guidelines surrounding written consent of the UK Government including any warships, the same article
ship recycling are not new, the Frazer prior to disposal; demonstrate that the requires the adoption of appropriate
Nash authors pointed out. Rather, the vessel will be recycled in accordance measures (not impairing operations or
proposed Convention builds on existing with relevant IMO Guidelines and the operational capabilities of such vessels) to
recommended IMO Guidelines on Basel Convention Guidelines; and take be taken to ensure that such vessels act in a
Ship Recycling as well as other relevant appropriate measures to ensure that the manner consistent, so far as is reasonable and
guidelines and standards, and seeks recycling facility adheres to applicable practice, with the proposed Convention.
to make them legally binding and environmental, health & safety standards. Notwithstanding this, DEFRA’s UK
internationally applicable. However, it remains unclear what Ship Recycling Strategy and the MOD
Th e proposed guidelines will consider recourse the UK government or the MOD Environmental Policy Statement and
Warship Technology July/August 2008 35
WWTJul-Aug08_p32+34+35+36+37+38.indd Sec2:35TJul-Aug08_p32+34+35+36+37+38.indd Sec2:35 77/22/08 7:43:11 PM/22/08 7:43:11 PM
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