East and Southern African States Unite to Advance Hong Kong Convention Implementation
Representatives from eight East and Southern African nations have agreed on a set of coordinated action points to accelerate the region-wide implementation of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC). The commitments were finalised during a three-day regional workshop held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 5–7 November 2025, under the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP).
The workshop, aimed at deepening understanding of the HKC’s requirements and strengthening national capacities for its effective adoption, brought together 32 participants from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa and Tanzania. Notably, the delegation included 14 women, signalling the region’s ongoing efforts to enhance gender inclusion within maritime policymaking and environmental governance—sectors long characterised by limited female representation.
Regional Commitment Gains Momentum
The event was inaugurated by Justus Omae Nyarandi, Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), who highlighted the significance of the HKC for safeguarding both human lives and the marine environment in a region increasingly engaged in global shipping and related activities.
Nyarandi noted that as maritime trade expands across Africa’s eastern seaboard, the need for sustainable end-of-life vessel management has become more urgent. “Our region cannot be left behind as the world moves toward safer, cleaner and more responsible ship recycling practices,” he said. “The Hong Kong Convention presents an opportunity for African maritime administrations to align national frameworks with globally accepted environmental and safety standards.”
Adopted in 2009, the HKC is designed to ensure that ships, once taken out of service, do not pose unnecessary risks to workers or the environment. It sets out requirements for the design, construction, operation and preparation of ships, as well as for the establishment of approved ship recycling facilities. The Convention is expected to enter into force globally in June 2025, following its ratification by the required number of States.
Guidance for Flag States and Regulators
Over the course of the workshop, IMO experts and facilitators provided detailed guidance to participating States on their respective responsibilities under the Convention. These included requirements for Flag States to certify ships’ Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), oversight obligations for ship recycling authorities, and the prerequisite legal frameworks needed for ratification and enforcement.
Delegates exchanged country-specific experiences, discussed national policy gaps and evaluated existing institutional capacities. Many States in the region are at varying stages of preparedness, with some having begun policy alignment while others are still conducting initial assessments of the Convention’s likely impacts on their maritime and industrial sectors.
The training also emphasised the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach involving environmental departments, port authorities, labour ministries, and private sector actors—particularly ship recycling yards, where applicable.
Action Points Agreed by Regional Delegates
At the conclusion of the workshop, countries collectively endorsed a set of practical steps to be undertaken at national level to progress towards HKC ratification and compliance. These include:
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Conducting preliminary analyses on the expected regulatory, economic and environmental impacts of implementing the HKC. These assessments will help governments shape policy decisions and identify domestic legal amendments required before ratification.
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Preparing advocacy and information briefs targeted at national policymakers, cabinet-level authorities, and parliamentary committees. The aim is to raise awareness about the Convention’s relevance, benefits and long-term implications for maritime safety, labour welfare and environmental sustainability.
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Identifying and addressing capacity gaps—including technical expertise, institutional readiness and infrastructural needs—that currently hinder HKC ratification or implementation. Countries will map areas where external support, training or investment may be necessary.
These coordinated action points mark a significant stride in regional maritime cooperation and reflect growing recognition of ship recycling as a critical environmental and occupational safety issue.
Strengthening Regional Environmental Governance
Participants noted that while only a few African States currently operate sizeable ship recycling facilities, aligning with HKC requirements is essential for the continent’s maritime future. As global regulations tighten, failure to adopt internationally recognised recycling standards could result in African shipyards losing access to vessels eligible for responsible recycling, while domestic administrations may struggle to maintain oversight of hazardous materials onboard foreign-flagged ships calling at their ports.
Moreover, HKC implementation is expected to complement other regional environmental commitments, including those under the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy and various national climate and pollution-control agendas.
The workshop also reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration with the IMO and development partners to strengthen institutional frameworks, build technical capacity and ensure long-term compliance.
Looking Ahead
For many participating States, the next steps will involve translating workshop outcomes into concrete national plans. This may include legislative reviews, formal submission of policy briefs to senior government officials, stakeholder consultations with industry partners and the mobilisation of funding to upgrade technical systems.
The IMO has pledged ongoing support through additional capacity-building initiatives, follow-up workshops and advisory missions tailored to the needs of individual countries.
As East and Southern African nations work toward harmonising their ship recycling regulations with global best practices, the region is positioning itself to play a more active role in the evolving maritime environmental landscape. The momentum generated in Mombasa marks an important milestone—one that participants hope will accelerate HKC ratification and ensure safer, more sustainable ship recycling across the African coastline.
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