THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) celebrates the leadership shown by both principal ship recycling country Bangladesh and the world's second largest ship registry, the Liberian Registry, for agreeing to ratify the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention).
The Hong Kong Convention aims to ensure that ships when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or the environment.
Bangladesh ratified the Hong Kong Convention just a few weeks ago, and Liberian Registry's positive commitment recently has allowed all the requirements to be met to successfully bring the much-anticipated Convention into force. The Hong Kong Convention enters into force 24 months after ratification by 15 States, representing 40 per cent of the world's merchant shipping by gross tonnage, with a combined maximum annual ship recycling volume not less than 3 per cent of their combined tonnage.
Since the Convention was adopted on the May 15, 2009, by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Chamber of Shipping has been advocating for it to be ratified and to come into force to ensure international safe and sustainable ship recycling processes.
John Stawpert, senior manager (Environment and Trade) of the International Chamber of Shipping commented: "It is overwhelmingly positive for the shipping and recycling industries, and the environment that the Hong Kong Convention has now entered into force following the most recent confirmation of ratification from Bangladesh and the Liberian Registry, a move that the International Chamber of Shipping have championed for 14 years.
"Entry into force confirms the huge progress made in safe and environmentally sound ship recycling that has been driven by the Convention since its adoption in 2009 and realizes the globally compliant market into which ships must now be sold, giving shipowners confidence and legal certainty that end of-life vessels will be recycled properly.
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Kerry Logistics inaugurates global LCL services from major Asian gateway
HONG Kong's Kerry Logistics Network Limited (KLN) has launched a global less-than-container load (LCL) programme to offer weekly direct LCL services from key Asian gateways to multiple country destinations across the globe.
In a statement, KLN said the new offerings will provide customers with increased cost efficiency and dedicated customer care from Container Freight Station (CFS) to CFS for cargoes of any size.
"With the new weekly scheduled LCL services, suitable for all industries, KLN caters to more than 2,800 corridors worldwide. Leveraging KLN's established overland network between China and Southeast Asia, KLN provides shipment pick-up across China to be transported through its self-owned or self-managed consolidation hubs in all base ports with complete control on landside haulage cost."
The company said it'll also provides value-added services including insurance, fumigation, customs clearance, warehousing as well as cargo tracking through its designated portal.
Vic Cheung, managing director of Kerry Logistics Network, said: "Many companies are facing increasing price pressure as the demand for products remains low post-pandemic. Our dedicated global ocean freight team is maximizing the load per container to offer our customers greater flexibility and more cost savings on their shipments, in particular for smaller-volume cargoes." |
