GMS Podcast Episode 2 Explores Long Road to Hong Kong Convention Enforcement
From Paper to Practice – Experts Decode the 16-Year Journey of the Hong Kong Convention in GMS Podcast Series
Dubai | June 8, 2025
Sixteen years after it was adopted, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) is finally entering into force in 2025. In the second episode of its new podcast series, global ship recycling leader GMS delves deep into the reasons behind the Convention’s long and winding journey from ratification to implementation. Titled “From Paper to Practice – Challenges and Realities of HKC,” the episode brings back two leading voices in ship recycling reform: Dr. Nikos Mikelis, widely regarded as the architect of the HKC, and Dr. Anand Hiremath, Chief Sustainability Officer at GMS.
Following up on the introductory episode that set the stage for the HKC’s significance, Episode 2 confronts the practical realities that slowed progress. Mikelis and Hiremath offer a candid look at the political, economic, and technical headwinds that delayed global consensus, and share how efforts on the ground have evolved to align with the Convention’s ambitious safety and environmental benchmarks.
Why Did It Take 16 Years?
One of the key questions explored in the episode is why the Convention, adopted under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2009, took nearly a generation to reach entry into force.
Dr. Mikelis attributes the delay primarily to the Convention’s strict entry-into-force conditions. “Unlike many other IMO instruments, HKC required not just a minimum number of ratifying countries, but also thresholds for both the number of ships and gross tonnage under those flags. That made it unusually difficult to trigger,” he explains.
It wasn’t until Bangladesh and Liberia—two crucial stakeholders in terms of recycling capacity and tonnage respectively—ratified the Convention in mid-2023 that the final hurdle was cleared, setting the HKC on course for enforcement in June 2025.
Dr. Hiremath adds that geopolitical caution and misunderstanding also played a role. “Many governments and industry actors feared that compliance would be too costly or disruptive to daily operations,” he says. “But those concerns often stemmed from misconceptions.”
What Slowed Down Global Adoption?
Beyond the entry-into-force thresholds, a range of factors complicated global adoption. As the podcast reveals, many countries were reluctant to commit to the HKC due to concerns over how compliance would affect competitiveness, especially in South Asia where the majority of the world’s ship recycling occurs.
“There was a lot of pressure from environmental groups and regulators to switch immediately to more stringent frameworks like the EU Ship Recycling Regulation or the Basel Convention,” Mikelis notes. “But these frameworks, while well-intentioned, don’t always consider the ground realities in developing economies.”
The podcast emphasizes that the HKC was specifically designed to be both ambitious and pragmatic, balancing the need for better environmental and labor standards with the economic realities of countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Changes on the Ground: What’s Different Today?
Despite the long road to enforcement, significant changes have already taken place across major ship recycling hubs. As the episode details, the industry has undergone a quiet but powerful transformation in anticipation of the HKC’s implementation.
“In India, we now have more than 90 yards certified as HKC-compliant by leading classification societies,” says Dr. Hiremath. “They have installed impermeable floors, upgraded worker safety equipment, adopted hazardous waste segregation procedures, and run continuous training programs.”
Bangladesh, once seen as the laggard, has also begun making strides. The country has implemented new legislation and is working with international partners to modernize its yards. Pakistan, though slower, is taking early steps to align with HKC standards.
“Change hasn’t come all at once,” says Dr. Mikelis. “But over 16 years, we’ve seen a growing realization that better standards are good for business in the long run. Many yards now market themselves as HKC-compliant and attract better-paying clients as a result.”
Audits, Training, and Classification Societies: Keys to Progress
A recurring theme in the discussion is the role of third-party audits and classification societies in maintaining credibility and transparency. Organizations like ClassNK, Lloyd’s Register, and RINA have been instrumental in guiding yards through the certification process.
“Certification isn’t just a rubber stamp,” emphasizes Hiremath. “It’s an ongoing process involving internal audits, external verification, and re-certification. The presence of independent assessors has raised accountability and improved confidence in the system.”
Dr. Mikelis also underscores the value of worker training and local capacity building. “The HKC requires detailed procedures for worker health and safety, from proper asbestos handling to emergency response,” he says. “Without training, the best infrastructure means nothing.”
HKC vs. EU SRR and Basel Convention: A Clash of Visions?
The episode also tackles the ongoing debate between different regulatory regimes. The EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) mandates that ships flying an EU flag be recycled only at yards on an EU-approved list, many of which are in Europe or Turkey. Meanwhile, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes has also been invoked to prevent ships from being exported for recycling.
“Both frameworks aim to protect the environment and workers,” says Dr. Mikelis. “But they operate under different assumptions and mechanisms. The EU list, for example, doesn’t recognize many yards in India that have invested heavily to meet HKC standards.”
Dr. Hiremath points out that the HKC represents a more global and inclusive approach. “It provides a path for developing countries to meet international standards without being excluded from the industry altogether,” he explains. “Rather than creating regulatory islands, the HKC seeks to raise the bar globally.”
A Convention Whose Time Has Come
As Episode 2 makes clear, the path from paper to practice has been anything but linear. However, with the HKC now finally entering into force, the industry stands at a crucial inflection point.
“Ship recycling is no longer the ‘Wild West’ it once was,” says Dr. Mikelis. “We now have a framework that’s both realistic and effective. It’s not perfect, but it’s a huge step forward.”
GMS’s podcast series has become a timely resource for policymakers, shipowners, recyclers, and environmental advocates seeking to understand the complex dynamics behind one of the most significant developments in maritime regulation.
Listen to Episode 2:
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Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gGMR4bhC
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Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gr3-Hgny
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Amazon Music: https://lnkd.in/gx7BKT5Z
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YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g4EVhqig
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Podbean: https://lnkd.in/gq_UhTuw
The GMS Podcasts series continues to demystify the evolving world of ship recycling and regulation, with future episodes expected to cover enforcement strategies, compliance success stories, and challenges ahead.
