in May 2009, the International Maritime

Organization (IMO) adopted a new International

Convention for the Safe and Environmentally
Sound Recycling of Ships, at a Diplomatic
Conference in Hong Kong, China. The Convention
will impose new requirements on ships from
'cradle to grave' governing i.e. from the time of a
ship's construction to its final demolition. The
international shipping industry fully supports the
early ratification of the 'Hong-Kong Convention'
and these 'Guidelines on Transitional Measures
for Shipowners Selling Ships for Recycling' have
been developed by an industry working group
(co-ordinated by ICS, with current members
including BIMCO, IACS, INTERCARGO, IPTA, OCIMF
and ITF) to enable the shipping industry to
minimise potential problems before the new
Convention enters into force.