Recycling of Ships Bill 2019 becomes an Act

The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 has become an Act after it received the assent of President of India last Friday on 13th December 2019. The Act will provide regulation for recycling of ships under certain international standards and will lay the statutory mechanism for enforcement of such international standards in the country. India on 28th November this year, has also acceded to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
The Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 prohibits and restricts the installation or use of hazardous materials which applies irrespective of whether a ship is meant for recycling or not. For new Ships, the prohibitions and restrictions will be immediate as from the date of the legislation came into force, while for existing ships, a five years compliance period shall be provided.
Under the Act, the ship recycling facilities will have to be authorized and ships can be recycled in authorized ship recycling facilities only.
The use of hazardous materials restrictions and prohibition are applied to warships and non-commercial ships operated by the Government. Ships will be certified and surveyed on the inventory of hazardous materials used in ships.