Recycling of Ships - Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Vessels - page 83

￿ “the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships so as to facilitate
safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and
operational efficiency of ships;
￿ the operation of ship recycling facilities in a safe and environmentally sound
manner; and
￿ the establishment of an appropriate enforcement mechanism for ship recycling
(certification/reporting requirements).” 11
After discussions at multiple meetings of the MEPC, the IMO adopted a con-
vention on ship recycling in 2009. Initially, Norway submitted a draft for the
proposed convention. 12 In March 2006, the MEPC 54 established a correspondence
group 13 that considered the Norwegian draft and submitted a report to the MEPC
55. 14 The MEPC 55, which met in October 2006 in London, considered the report
of the correspondence group. 15 It also arranged for the correspondence group to
discuss and further develop the draft text. 16 At that meeting it was agreed to hold an
inter-sessional meeting of the Ship Recycling Working Group before the MEPC
56. 17 The MEPC 56, held in July 2007, considered the second report of the Inter-
sessional Working Group. 18 The MPEC 56 decided to hold a third meeting of the
inter-sessional working group in January 2008 before the MEPC 57. 19 The MEPC
57, held in April 2008, considered the third report of the Inter-sessional Working
Group and the revised text of the draft Convention submitted by the group. 20
Finally, the MEPC 58, held in October 2008, approved the text of the draft

11 New Legally Binding Instrument on Ship Recycling, para 1.1-3, IMO Doc.A24/Res.981
(6 February 2006).”
12 Recycling of Ships: Proposal for a New Legally-Binding Instrument on Recycling of Ships,
IMO Doc. MEPC Doc. 54/3 (5 December 2005).
13 Report of the Marine Environment Protection Committee on its Fifty-Fourth Session, para. 18.9,
IMO Doc. MEPC 54/21 (27 March 2006).
14 Recycling of Ships: Report of the Correspondence Group, IMO Doc. MEPC 55/3/2 (7 July
2006) (hereinafter Report of the Correspondence Group).
15 Report of the Maritime Environmental Protection Committee on its Fifty-fifth Session, para.
3.46, IMO Doc. MEPC 55/23 (Oct. 16, 2006) (hereinafter Report of the MEPC Fifty-Fifth
Session).
16

Ibid.

17

Ibid.

18

Report of the Second Inter-sessional Meeting of the Working Group on Ship Recycling, IMO
Doc. MEPC 56/3 (11 May 2007) (hereinafter Second ISRWG Report).
19 Report of the Marine Environment Protection Committee on its Fifty-Sixth Session, IMO Doc.
MEPC 56/23 (30 July 2007).
20 Report of the Marine Environment Protection Committee on its Fifty-Seventh Session, para. 3.3,
IMO Doc. MEPC 57/21 (Apr. 7, 2008) (hereinafter Report of the MEPC Fifty-Seventh Session).
See also Report of the Third Intersessional Meeting of the Working Group on Ship Recycling,
IMO Doc. MEPC 57/3 (25 June 2008).