Chemical Management System
Streamlined chemical tracking and compliance
You’ve heard about the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) for a while. From 26 June 2025, it becomes enforceable across most of the global fleet. Here's what shipowners need to do as enforcement begins.
Now is the time to ensure active IHM compliance. If your fleet trades internationally and sails under a flag that has ratified HKC, compliance is now a defined obligation. If you operate under a flag like Panama, Liberia or the Marshall Islands, this may be the first time the Convention applies to you in full.
The Hong Kong International Convention for the Save and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) applies to any ship entering the waters of a country that has ratified the convention. This means that even ships flying the flag of states not party to HKC has to comply.
🔗 Metizoft helps you stay ahead of regulations, so you don’t pay the price later.
What the Convention requires
The Convention introduces global minimum standards for safer, cleaner ship recycling. For shipowners, the core requirements are:
- A certified Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM)
- The IHM must be maintained and updated throughout the vessel’s life
- Vessels may only be recycled at authorised yards
- A Ready for Recycling certificate issued before delivery to yard
- Documentation must be correct and available for inspection
Your flag state, class society and port state authorities will all be involved in verifying compliance. The systems you have in place now will determine how smooth that process is later.
Pressure points to prepare for
IHM maintenance
The IHM isn’t just a one-time report. It must be kept current as equipment is replaced or materials change. We still see vessels sailing with outdated IHMs that don’t reflect recent installations. This increases the risk of detention once port inspections focus more consistently on HKC.
Yard authorisation
From June, you need to prove that the recycling yard receiving your vessel is HKC-authorised. Not all facilities have completed the process yet. If you're planning to recycle in South Asia or under time pressure, this needs early attention.
Final survey and documentation
Recycling a ship under HKC is a regulated process. You’ll need an updated IHM (including Part II and III), a ship-specific recycling plan, and a final class approved survey. That means lead time, coordination and paperwork. It can’t be done on short notice.
Fleet-wide coordination
If you manage multiple vessels, IHM tracking and renewal can get complex fast. The bigger your fleet, the more important it is to have oversight and systems in place.
How Metizoft helps
Metizoft provides practical support for HKC compliance across your fleet:
- IHM surveys and documentation for existing ships
- Ongoing IHM maintenance with full version control
- Digital tools for centralising and updating IHM records
- Final survey preparation and ship-specific plan coordination
- Compliance support to ensure your chosen yard meets HKC requirements.
- On-site supervision during recycling
We’ve worked with shipowners since the earliest IHM mandates came into effect. Our team includes hazmat experts, compliance advisors and recycling supervisors with real operational experience. We handle the technical detail so your vessels can keep moving.
Why shipowners choose Metizoft
✔︎ 20 years of maritime compliance expertise
✔︎ Digital tools for IHM tracking and version control
✔︎ On-site verification during recycling
✔︎ Final survey coordination and documentation
✔︎ Trusted by major ship owners globally
✔︎ Metizoft-supported vessels consistently pass IHM inspections without compliance issues.
Act now to avoid costly surprises
The Hong Kong Convention will be enforced through flag states, class societies and port inspections. Non-compliance can mean fines, delays or reputational risk.
We help you spot the compliance gaps before they become problems.
