The new amendment to SOLAS II-1 (2005)/3-5.2, MSC.282(86) entered into force on 1st of January, 2011 prohibits without any exemption any new installation of materials which contain asbestos. (SOLAS, MSC.282(86)). This applies for all newbuildings and existing ships with 500 GT and above.
The mandatory requirement is also reflected in the new IMO Convention for "Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships" which was adopted by the Diplomatic Conference in 2009 inHong Kong and is expected to come into force in 2015. The aim is to prevent hazardous working conditions and to ensure environmentally sound ship recycling operations in ship recycling facilities. The convention will affect approximately 50,000 existing ships above 500 GT worldwide, requiring them to have a certified "Inventory of Hazardous Materials" (IHM) on board within five years after entry into force with an individual due date of the next class renewal. The IHM lists relevant hazardous materials present in the vessel's structure and equipment as like asbestos, PCB, Ozone Depleting Substances and TBT. (SOLAS II-1 (2005)/3-5.2)
The mandatory requirement is also reflected in the new IMO Convention for "Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships" which was adopted by the Diplomatic Conference in 2009 in
Application date for the above is January 1st of 2011 as new SOLAS amendments are entering to force.
