Asbestos Management News

New European ship recycling regulations enter into force at the end of the year, but many shipowners have yet to comply. The EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EUsRR) stipulates that all ships over 500 GRT which call at EU ports must have a Statement of Compliance (SoC) demonstrating that they have an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) on board. Current difficult market conditions, compounded by delays caused by the work-from-home situation due to the coronavirus pandemic, has meant many are still to undertake the necessary work to enter compliance.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) should amend regulations banning the use of asbestos and asbestos containing materials (ACM) in ships, says John Chillingworth, senior marine principal at Lucion Marine. Regulations under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) state that if asbestos is found onboard a ship built after July 2002 then the vessel’s flag registry, in conjunction with its classification society, issues a non-extendable exemption certificate, providing the owner with a three-year window in which to remove the asbestos.

The guide takes a wider look at asbestos, exploring its history, composition and health effects to underline the vital importance of correct management. It also details asbestos-related regulation and suggests tools that can be used to achieve best practice in asbestos management. Despite better management and reduced production of asbestos, there remains considerable room for improvement, primarily to reduce the number of deaths. It is still estimated that more than 107,000 people die each year from mesothelioma…