HONG KONG CONVENTION: SHIP RECYCLING IN UKRAINE AND THE MODERN WORLD

Abstract

The article is devoted to the environmentally safe disposal of sea and river vessels in the context of the “green” and digital transformation of Ukraine's economy. It provides a comprehensive analysis of international regulatory approaches to ship recycling, in particular the provisions of the Hong Kong International Convention, the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR), and ISO 14001 and ISO 30000 standards, which set requirements for environmental management, worker safety, and hazardous materials control. The interconnection between global environmental trends, the development of the circular economy, and the need to modernize Ukraine's national policy in the field of maritime fleet disposal is demonstrated. An overview of modern ship dismantling technologies is provided, including hydroabrasive, mechanical, thermal, and combined cutting methods, with an assessment of their environmental, energy, and economic performance. International experience is summarized, in particular the practices of ship recycling companies in Turkey, which demonstrate an effective combination of industrial infrastructure and strict environmental standards. Based on an analysis of the state of the Ukrainian fleet, critical problems have been identified: the high average age of ships, the lack of centralized accounting for decommissioning, the lack of technical resources and qualified personnel, as well as significant bureaucratic and corruption risks in licensing procedures. Statistical data on global shipbreaking for 2020–2024 are presented, showing uneven dynamics in recycling volumes and the significant impact of the freight market, steel prices, and the introduction of new environmental requirements on the structure of decommissioning. It is emphasized that for Ukraine, the development of the recycling industry could become an important tool for the revival of shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises, the formation of a secondary materials market, and the reduction of environmental risks. A comprehensive approach to the creation of a national system of “green” ship recycling is proposed, which includes the ratification of international documents, updating the regulatory framework, developing technical capacities, forming environmental management standards, and introducing transparent control mechanisms. It is shown that the implementation of such measures will contribute to improving environmental safety, integrating Ukraine into European circular economy practices, and strengthening the maritime industry as a whole.