Leading cash buyer of vessels Wirana Shipping has called for greater focus on how Hong Kong Convention standards are applied in practice, warning that certification alone cannot guarantee consistently safer and more environmentally responsible ship recycling.

The issue comes into sharper focus ahead of World Maritime Day 2026, which takes the theme ‘From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence’. For ship recycling, that transition from regulation to implementation is particularly relevant following the entry into force of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).

The Convention has established a global framework covering responsibilities across shipowners, flag and party states, recycling facilities and surveyors. Recycling facilities must demonstrate that they have the appropriate infrastructure, training and management systems in place and can undertake recycling in accordance with their Ship Recycling Facility Plan. With certification now achieved by a growing number of facilities, attention is increasingly turning to what happens after approval has been granted.

Hitesh Vyas, Vice President Middle East and Green Recycling Coordinator at Wirana Shipping, said: “The real test of any regulation is what happens on the ground. A recycling facility can have the right procedures, training and management systems in place, but those standards have to be applied consistently from the first day of recycling until the vessel is completely dismantled.

“Ship recycling is a complex operation and the risks can change as work progresses. That makes continuous supervision, regular inspections and strict adherence to agreed procedures extremely important. The industry should not see certification as something that is achieved once and then put to one side. Maintaining those standards every day is what ultimately protects workers and the environment.”

No regulatory regime can remove every operational risk. Its effectiveness ultimately depends on how hazards are managed as dismantling progresses, whether procedures are followed consistently and whether the required standards are maintained after the certification process has been completed. Enforcement will therefore be an important part of the next phase of the HKC, says Wirana Shipping. Party states are required to establish their own ship recycling authorities and enforcement systems, while inspection and follow-up mechanisms continue to develop across the major recycling destinations.

CEO of Wirana Shipping, Rakesh Khetan said: “A lot of work has gone into getting recycling facilities HKC-certified, and that is an important step forward for the industry. But getting the certificate is only part of it, the real test is what happens afterwards. Are the procedures being followed properly? Are risks being managed as the vessel is dismantled? And are those standards being maintained from one project to the next?

“The HKC gives the industry a common framework, which is something we have needed for a long time. Now we need to make sure it is being applied properly on the ground. That means shipowners, cash buyers, recycling facilities and authorities all staying involved throughout the process. That is where the industry will really see whether the Convention is delivering what it was designed to achieve.”