Introduction
India commands the largest share of the world's shipbreaking
industry but has justifiably been criticised for environmental
degradation and lax compliance towards worker safety and health
issues. This is meant to change with the introduction of
legislation to give effect to the Hong Kong International
Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of
Ships, 2009, (Convention). The Convention is aimed at ensuring that
ship recycling does not pose unnecessary risk to the environment or
to human health and safety.
Hong Kong Convention
The Convention mandates the procedure to be followed for survey
and certification of ships to be recycled1 as well as
for the authorisation of ship-recycling facilities.2 It
requires member states to prohibit and/or restrict the installation
and use of certain hazardous materials on ships flying their flags
or whilst in their ports, shipyards, ship repair yards or offshore
terminals.3 It contemplates
