An inter-industry working party – comprising the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, Intercargo, intertanko, ITOPF, ITF and OCIMF – has launched an Industry Code of Practice on Ship Recycling, outlining the measures which shipowners should be prepared to take prior to disposing of redundant ships. The Code is a concerted response to concerns that have been raised about the working and environmental conditions present in some of the world's ship recycling facilities, most of which are located in developing countries.

The chairman of the working party, ICS Secretary General, Chris Horrocks, explained “While the shipping industry cannot determine the conditions in the recycling yards, it can take some practical steps to reduce the risks associated with the dismantling of ships.”In addition to covering the measures that shipowners might take prior to the delivery of ships at recycling yards, such as the cleaning and certification of tanks to hot work and entry standards, the Code incorporates an Inventory of Potentially Hazardous Materials on Board, intended for completion on a ship’s last voyage prior to being broken up.

Copies are available via national shipowners' associations, or can be downloaded and printed from the site of Maritime International Secretariat Services Limited (Marisec).