Henning Gramann, environmental engineer and expert for ship recycling at Germanischer Lloyd, revealed the details of the new IMO requirements. The core element of the convention for shipyards and ship owners will be a compendium of the potentially hazardous materials present in ship structure and equipment, called the Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM). Accordingly, the shipowners will have to keep a list for each of their ships, showing the harmful materials and their precise locations. This will apply to newbuildings as well as ships already in service.

'The list must be kept up to date through the entire operating life of a ship,' Gramann said. In this way, the planned legislation will affect all shipowners, not just the last one in the line. He also pointed out that it is high time for all parties involved to get prepared. 'The draft of the new convention is due to be completed next year, so that the ratification process will begin early in 2009.'

The exact date when the law can come into effect depends on entry into force conditions that still have to be laid down. Henning Gramann expects entry into force of the convention in approximately in 2013. He added, 'However, it is obvious that most of today's ships and all newbuilds above 500GT will fall under this regime and when it is finally valid internationally, action must be taken without delay.'

The suppliers will have to prepare a Suppliers Declaration of Conformity and materials declarations providing details of the hazardous materials contained in their products. These documents will form the basis for the ship specific Inventory of Hazardous Materials which will be developed by the shipyard.

If the convention enters into force in 2013 as expected, some 50,000 ships worldwide will fall under the new regulation. The looming growth in demand is the main, but not the only reason why Germanischer Lloyd is advising its customers to start compiling an Inventory of Hazardous Materials and to commence certification sooner rather than later.

The list can also represent a competitive advantage. Environmental protection is becoming increasingly a matter of image and once shipowners have made a commitment to quality management and thus also to continuous improvement of environmental standards, they can present such a certificate as a bonus.