Ready, willing and (sustain)able: shipping coming clean

Nazery Khalid shares the progress of the Hong Kong Convention aimed at greening ship recycling activities

The shipping industry, a crucial facilitator of global trade and enabler to many economic activities, has now got into the groove of protecting the environment and minimising pollution. Efforts have been made to lower greenhouse gas emissions from ships through operational and technical measures, enhancing energy efficiency through ship design and operations, and protecting the marine environment through proper storage, disposal and discharge of wastes from ships. Led by the IMO, such measures are gaining traction as new conventions related to "green shipping" - or the conduct of shipping in an environmentally friendly way - are introduced.