03/2021 - Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia Flagged Vessels - IHM Requirements for Vessels calling into the EU or United Kingdom

Applicability: shipowners, ship operators, ship managers, ship masters, shipbuilders and Hong Kong, Singapore or Australia  flagged vessels of 500GT and over calling at a port or anchorage in the EEA or UK.   

Hong Kong,  Singapore and Australia flagged vessels must ensure they carry onboard an addendum to their IHM Statement of Compliance if calling into the EEA (EU countries plus Norway and Iceland) or Northern Irelandⁱⁱ.

The EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) became applicable for all existing ships on 31 December 2020. It requires vessels calling into the EEA and flying the flag of a ‘third country’ (non-EEA) to have onboard an up-to-date Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) and a Statement of Compliance issued under the authority of the flag Administration against EU SRR. This also continues to be the case if calling into the UK following its exit from the EU (see Class News 01/2021).

Lloyd’s Register (LR) can issue a Statement of Compliance, however this cannot be under the authority of the Hong Kong, Singapore or Australia flag Administrations. Each Administration has therefore prepared standard (non-vessel specific) covering letters to be placed on board, alongside the Statement of Compliance issued by LR. These letters outline to Port State Control Officers that the flag Administration supports its Recognised Organisations to conduct the IHM approval, verification and certification work.

For Hong Kong, Singapore or Australia flagged vessels to be certified by LR:

The respective covering letters are issued alongside the Statement of Compliance as soon as your vessel(s) are ready for certification. These letters can be accessed via LR Class Direct and downloaded from the ship recycling section of the relevant country file.

For Hong Kong, Singapore or Australia  flagged vessels already certified by LR:

If you have not already been sent a copy of the letter(s), these can be accessed via LR Class Direct and downloaded from the ship recycling section of the relevant country file.

ⁱFor clarity, Northern Ireland is the area of the UK that excludes Great Britain.

ⁱⁱShip recycling is subject to the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. For the purposes of ship recycling, Northern Irish ports and anchorages are treated as EEA ports and anchorages.

Further information

For more details please contact your local Lloyd’s Register group office or Statutory support.