Hong Kong Ship Recycling Convention Enters into Force as Maersk Resumes Haifa Port Calls
On June 26, 2025, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) officially entered into force, following the fulfilment of ratification thresholds in June 2023. The Convention mandates global protocols for ship design, hazardous-material inventories, recycling-facility operations, worker safety, and certification processes, extending responsibilities across shipowners, recycling yards, flag states, port states, and recycling states.
The convention prohibits or restricts the use of harmful substances such as asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, ozone-depleting substances, and certain anti-fouling agents. It requires a verified inventory of hazardous materials onboard, strict standards for ship recycling facility operations, and robust systems for certification, inspection, and enforcement.
Prior to entry into force, major ship recycling nations, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Turkey, voluntarily aligned with HKC standards. India, for instance, has approximately 115 compliant yards out of 130. To date, 24 states—including key flag registries such as Japan, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, and principal recycling nations—have joined, covering over 57 percent of the global shipping tonnage.
In response to the Convention’s enforcement, trade union IndustriALL described the moment as a major milestone for worker health and safety in one of the world’s most dangerous industries. Their director for shipbuilding and shipbreaking, Walton Pantland, emphasised that the true impact will depend on practical implementation by shipowners, governments, recyclers, and unions.
BIMCO has warned that to unlock the Convention’s full potential, unresolved tensions with the Basel Convention must be addressed. They also emphasised the importance of expanding compliant capacity and encouraging shipowners to use HKC-certified yards . Indeed, even compliant vessels may face constraints due to conflicting frameworks between HKC and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation.
In a separate development, Danish shipping giant Maersk announced the resumption of cargo acceptance at Israel’s Port of Haifa for imports as of June 25, 2025, following a suspension of operations on June 20 due to regional security threats linked to the Israel‑Iran conflict. The pause, which affected both vessel calls and import cargo handling, was executed in accordance with Maersk’s risk assessment protocols aimed at ensuring crew safety amid missile and drone strikes.
Although Haifa is now handling import shipments, export activity remains on hold pending assurances of reduced security risk. Meanwhile, Maersk continues operations via the Port of Ashdod and maintains contingency plans to navigate evolving regional conditions.
This operational resumption highlights the sensitivity of global maritime logistics to geopolitical dynamics. Haifa serves as a strategic entry point for Israeli goods; Maersk’s prompt return underscores the shipping industry's agility in adapting to shifts in regional security landscapes.
