EPE Signs Contract for Preparation of Inventories of Hazardous Materials (IHMs) on Vessels
27 January 2010
Environmental Protection Engineering (EPE) has signed a contract with Reederei Thomas Schulte for the preparation of inventories of hazardous materials (IHMs) for its fleet of 33 container vessels, to comply with the new IMO Hong Kong convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.
Reederei Thomas Schulte also signed a contract with Germanischer Lloyd for the certification of the IHMs.
The Ship Recycling Convention, adopted at a diplomatic conference in Hong Kong (May 2009), aims to improve standards of safety and reduce environmental pollution from the recycling of ships. The Convention will require ships to have an IHM specific to each ship — a document that contains all the materials on-board a ship that may be hazardous to people's health or the environment, and that require careful handling or special awareness.
OIiver Kautz, quality manager at Thomas Schulte, said: "Our motto for all measures is 'A safe ship is a clean ship'. In other words, Thomas Schulte implements many measures with environmental protection in mind, in order to ensure both safety and ecological compatibility in equal measure. It is a matter of policy for the company that all conditions adhere to environmental protection and the protection of natural resources, to ensure a permanent and strict monitoring process."
"Our company has a long history and great experience in marine and industrial spill response and management of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, including the removal and treatment of asbestos," says Nikos Panteliadis, director of the asbestos management department at EPE. "Acting once more as a pioneer, devoted to the needs of the shipping world, we have already established a new department focusing to the demands of the IHM according to the Ship Recycling Convention."
Fotis Ploumitsakos, EPE naval architect and mechanical engineer, said: "Our experience, dedication and sensitivity for the protection of the environment joining the environmental philosophy of Reederei Thomas Schulte and the knowledge and prestige of GL guarantee the beginning of a successful and long-term cooperation."
