GMS Leadership | World's Largest Buyer of Ships and Offshore Assets

July 29, 2019

Lloyd’s Maritime Academy launches online Ship Recycling Certificate in collaboration with GMS

Do you know the difference between recycling and responsible recycling? Do you understand the impact of various regulations such as the Hong Kong Convention and European Union Ship Recycling Regulation on your bottom line? Does your company follow recycling methods geared towards CSR? GMS is proud to announce the first-of-its-kind Ship Recycling Course offered through Lloyd’s Maritime Academy to help ship owners, yard owners, managers, technical directors, and others in the maritime community learn the fundamentals of ship recycling, its commercial role and the sustainable impact on the environment. Starting August 12, this 14-week long online course led by Dr. Anand Hiremath, lead coordinator of the GMS Responsible Ship Recycling Program (GMS-RSRP), will introduce the global ship recycling industry, provide a thorough understanding of the various components in the recycling process and discuss strategy and change management for your company through lectures and case studies. At the end of the course, participants will receive a certificate in ship recycling.

Dr. Anand M. Hiremath is a Civil Engineer with a Masters in Environmental Engineering and a Doctorate in Ship Recycling from IIT Bombay, India. In addition, he holds a diploma in Industrial Safety, is a DNV GL certified Hazmat Expert (IHM specialist) and qualifies as a Lead Auditor for OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015. Dr. Hiremath has been a member of the GMS team for the last four years as a Green Recycling Specialist based in Bhavnagar, India, where he works closely with select yards ensuring compliance with the guidelines of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. In addition, Dr. Hiremath is responsible for the GMS Responsible Ship Recycling Programme (GMS-RSRP) and wrote the first practical handbook on ship recycling entitled: “The Green Handbook: A Practical Checklist to Monitor the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships” (available on Amazon), which highlights the procedures the GMS-RSRP follows to help both ship and yard owners recycle a vessel in an environmentally-friendly manner. Under his supervision, more than 60 vessels have been successfully green recycled.

“Ship recycling is a growing issue within the maritime industry that is often misunderstood or misrepresented. This ship recycling course is tailor-made for shipping companies, shipyards and associated maritime personnel to foster better understanding of the global ship recycling industry and how it contributes to circular economy and sustainability,” explains Dr. Hiremath. “This is the first-of-its-kind course where policies, safety and environmental concerns, legal matters, the recycling sector’s recent development, and the individual role each participant plays in the ship recycling industry are all addressed in a nutshell. It also clarifies recent regulatory requirements, increases awareness about the CSR components of recycling, and discusses responsible recycling solutions in a simple and effective manner.”

– END OF TEXT –

For further enquiries, contact us at: bd@gmsinc.net

ABOUT GMS

Founded in 1992 in the USA, GMS is the world’s largest Buyer of ships and offshore units for recycling. GMS has successfully negotiated several thousand assets since its inception—more than any other company in the industry. The firm's mission is to improve an asset’s residual value and improve international health, safety and environmental standards while generating awareness on the significance of responsible ship recycling in the maritime community. With nine international offices, an award-winning Responsible Ship Recycling Program, and a team of specialized experts, GMS continues to influence positive change in the global shipping industry.

ABOUT LLOYD'S MARITIME ACADEMY

Lloyd’s Maritime Academy is the expert in providing a life-long learning pathway for maritime professionals. With over 40 years’ experience, it designs and delivers relevant, accessible and transferable world-class education and training with over 150 courses within its international portfolio. Website: www.lloydsmaritimeacademy.com

July 17, 2019

Germany marks the 13th nation acceding to the Hong Kong Convention

Germany became the latest nation to accede to the IMO’s treaty for the safe and environmentally-sound recycling of ships—the Hong Kong Convention—yesterday in London. Germany’s accession marks the 13th contracting State to the Convention out of the 15 required as per the first of the three conditions for the Convention’s entry into force. These 13 countries represent 29.42 percent of the world merchant shipping tonnage—only 10.58 percent shy of the total required to satisfy the second condition of the HKC. The third and final condition requires that the combined maximum annual ship recycling volume of the countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention is at least three percent of the gross tonnage of their combined fleets. The third condition will be met when two of the four remaining major ship recycling countries—India, Bangladesh, China or Pakistan—accede.

The Hong Kong Convention was adopted by Member States of the IMO over a decade ago with the goal to ensure that “ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.” Under the treaty, each ship sent for recycling will be required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials while each recycling yard will have to provide a detailed Ship Recycling Plan to establish transparent reporting procedures. Dr. Nikos Mikelis, non-executive director of GMS and former head of the IMO’s Ship Recycling section, comments on the significance of this accession and explains why India has a key role to play for the convention to officially enter force.

“Accession by Germany, one of the major shipping nations, takes the Convention a step closer to its entry into force,” explains Mikelis, who is considered to be the “father of the HKC” for his instrumental role in its development. “With Germany’s accession, seven countries have acceded to the Convention in the last six months, which is one more than those that acceded in the previous nine years. The acceleration in the recognition amongst shipping nations of the need for the Convention to enter into force the soonest possible probably reflects growing concerns over the enforcement of the regional European Ship Recycling Regulation since the beginning of this year. What remains now is for two of the major ship recycling nations to also accede to the Convention before the ship recycling industry can start operating under a uniform global regulatory regime. India, most of whose recycling yards have invested in infrastructure, training, and working procedures and have been certificated by IACS classification societies as compliant with Hong Kong Convention, now holds the key to the Convention’s entry into force.”

– END OF TEXT –

For further enquiries, contact us at: bd@gmsinc.net

ABOUT GMS

June 20, 2019

Lloyd’s Register Becomes 4th Classification Society to Approve Indian Yards

European classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has begun approving recycling facilities in India that adhere to the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. This June, LR issued a Statement of Compliance (SoC) with the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) to Plot 24 E in Alang and sources say more yards are undergoing the auditing process.

LR joins Class NK, RINA and IR Class as the fourth classification society committed to further promote responsible recycling in India. As of now, almost 80 recycling yards in Alang have received a SoC with HKC from at least one of the major classification societies. These yards are globally certified to conduct green recycling based off the standards outlined in the IMO’s Hong Kong Convention. With LR now issuing HKC SoCs in Alang as well, yard owners have another reputable accreditation option to upgrade their recycling facilities to and become HKC compliant, potentially improving the quality and quantity of responsible recycling in India.

Dr. Anand Hiremath, lead coordinator of GMS’ Responsible Ship Recycling Program, comments on the impact this has for the future of green recycling in India. “Approval of SOC with HKC from Lloyd’s Register (LR) is good news for the industry and shows the growth of green recycling practices in Alang,” says Dr. Hiremath. “LR became the fourth IACS Class to accept (after ClassNK, RINA and IRClass) that ship recycling yards in India comply with the highest recycling standards. It is to be noted that two Turkish yards included in EU-List are also approved by LR for SOC with HKC. With 77 yards already having SOC with HKC in Alang—almost 60% of working yards—it wouldn’t be a surprise if Alang achieves 100% green recycling yards potentially by next year.”

– END OF TEXT –
For further enquiries, contact us at: bd@gmsinc.net

ABOUT GMS
Founded in 1992 in the USA, GMS is the world’s largest Buyer of ships and offshore units for recycling. GMS has successfully negotiated several thousand assets since its inception—more than any other company in the industry. The firm's mission is to improve an asset’s residual value and improve international health, safety and environmental standards while generating awareness on the significance of responsible ship recycling in the maritime community. With ten international offices, an award-winning Responsible Ship Recycling Program, and a team of specialized experts, GMS continues to influence positive change in the global shipping industry.

May 15, 2019

Malta accedes to the Hong Kong Convention on the eve of the treaty’s 10th anniversary

On the eve of the Hong Kong Convention’s 10th anniversary, Malta became the latest to accede to the IMO’s treaty for the safe and environmentally-sound recycling of ships. Malta’s accession marks the 12th nation to ratify/accede to the Convention out of the 15 required as per the first of the three conditions for the Convention’s entry into force. Including Malta, these 12 countries represent more than 28.8 percent of the world merchant shipping tonnage—only 11.2 percent fewer than the total required to satisfy the second condition of the HKC. The third and final condition requires that the combined maximum annual ship recycling volume of the countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention is at least three percent of the gross tonnage of their combined fleets. The third condition will be met when two of the four remaining major ship recycling countries—India, Bangladesh, China or Pakistan—accede.

The Hong Kong Convention was adopted by Member States of the IMO 10 years ago on May 15, 2009 with the goal to ensure that “ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment”. Under the treaty, each ship sent for recycling will be required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials while each recycling yard will have to provide a detailed Ship Recycling Plan to establish transparent reporting procedures. Of the 12 countries that ratified or acceded to the Convention, six—Japan, Turkey, Netherlands, Serbia, Malta and Estonia—did so in the last four months. Dr. Nikos Mikelis, non-executive director of GMS and former head of the IMO’s Ship Recycling section, comments on the significance of this recent growth.

“It is gratifying, after two years of no new ratifications, to witness in the last four months six more countries ratifying/ acceding to the Convention,” said Mikelis, who is considered to be the “father of the HKC” for his instrumental role in its adoption. “This accelerated uptake of Hong Kong Convention by governments must surely reflect the international recognition of the significant efforts and investments made by so many recycling yards in India, a development that is now starting in Bangladesh.”

– END OF TEXT –

For further enquiries, contact us at: bd@gmsinc.net

ABOUT GMS

February 28, 2019

Ship Recycling Workers' Union in Alang Honors Dr. Nikos Mikelis for Improved Safety at Indian Yards

Dr. Nikos Mikelis, non-executive director of GMS, has been honored by India’s ship recycling workers for his contribution to workers’ safety over the last decade. Dr. Mikelis has been instrumental in guiding the development and supporting the voluntary implementation of Hong Kong International Convention on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. While the Indian government is in the process of acceding to Hong Kong Convention, already 77 out of 120 ship recycling facilities in Alang have voluntarily complied to the requirements of the Convention. The upgrading that has been taking place in Alang is already yielding benefits to the workers.

On the 26th of February during the visit of the fact-finding mission of the European Communities Shipowners Associations (ECSA) to the office of the ship recycling workers’ union in Alang, General Secretary of ASSRGWA Mr. Vidyadhar Rane bestowed the honor on behalf of India’s ship recycling workers to Dr. Mikelis for the laudable work he has done for the safe and sustainable recycling of ships. Note: ASSRGWA is the Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling & General Workers Association, which is the registered trade union representing 17,800 industry workers.

– END OF TEXT –

For further enquiries, contact us at: bd@gmsinc.net

ABOUT GMS

Posted On

SCAN TO DOWNLOAD GMS APP

FOR

ABOUT GMS

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINK