孟加拉国政府官员表示，孟加拉国已决定在2023年底前批准《香港国际公约》，以确保船舶的安全和生态回收。
此举旨在提高船舶回收标准，并考虑到该行业的安全和环境影响，以及应对大规模的全球竞争，推动该行业的发展。
几天前，日本首相岸田文雄(Fumio Kishida)在孟加拉国总理谢赫·哈西娜(Sheikh Hasina)访问世界第三大经济体期间，表达了希望达卡尽早加入该公约的希望。
孟加拉国总理透露，今年将进一步努力争取早日加入该公约。
对此，岸田文雄表示，考虑到孟加拉国对开发储存、处理和处置设施的需求，他打算考虑支持达卡在船舶回收方面的努力。
在谈到政府的举措时，孟加拉国船舶回收委员会代理总干事谢赫·法祖尔·阿明工程师表示，如果该公约到2023年还没有得到批准，未来批准的可能性将很小。
该公约是国际海事组织于2009年通过的一项国际条约，规定了船舶回收活动的指导方针和标准，包括设计、运营、建造、船舶维护以及危险材料的处置。
该公约要求在设施符合一定环境和安全标准的情况下拆除船只，并且必须遵守规定才能继续营业。为了促进合规性，世界各地参与船舶回收的船厂必须考虑转换为绿色船厂。达标将防止船舶回收造成污染，因为船厂将以生态友好的方式回收船舶，伤亡和事故数量将降至几乎为零。
工业部副部长莫米努尔·拉希德(Md Mominur Rashid)强调，船舶回收行业一直是国家经济的主要贡献者。
他说，如果孟加拉国的船厂采用适当的流程来符合公约，发达国家将提供船只进行回收，这反过来将大大提高该行业对经济的贡献。
拉希德提到，这反过来将提升孟加拉国在全球平台上的形象，并补充说，鉴于全世界约有45000艘船只在运营，每年只有600-700艘被回收，该行业有巨大的增长机会。
他说，孟加拉国的廉价劳动力使其成为船舶回收的重要目的地。
然而，业内人士表示，该公约的批准将需要在基础设施和工人培训方面进行大量投资。孟加拉国的船舶回收行业年处理能力超过1000万吨，拥有近167个船舶回收场。
船厂所有人穆罕默德·沙欣·阿拉姆表示，公约的实施需要开发符合公约标准的设施，其中还包括提供适当的设备以及处理危险材料的设施，以实施安全和无害环境的做法。
船厂业主将建立类似的设施，每个现有堆场需要4亿至5亿塔卡的投资。
Alam告诉TBS，我们敦促政府提供低息贷款，以帮助促进向绿色船厂的转换。
据船舶回收行业内部人士透露，它对国家的整体可持续发展起着至关重要的作用。全国约60-70%的铁需求来自船舶回收行业，约有20000人直接就业，约80000人间接依赖该行业。
该行业一直在为国家经济做出重大贡献，如果采取适当的流程，可以做出更大的贡献。
该部门每年的收入超过8亿美元，为政府提供1亿至1.2亿美元的收入。
▲Ship Recycling. Representation Image.
英文原文
Bangladesh has decided on ratifying the Hong Kong International Convention for safe and ecologically sound recycling of vessels by the end of 2023, government officials have mentioned.
It is aimed at improving the standards of vessel recycling and boosting the industry in light of concerns regarding the safety and environmental effects of the industry, as well as withstanding massive global competition.
The development comes days after Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida, during a visit to the world’s third-largest economy by Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshi counterpart, expressed hope that Dhaka would be acceding to the convention at the earliest opportunity.
Bangladesh’s premier revealed intentions to further efforts for early accession to the convention this year.
Kishida, in response, expressed intentions to consider supporting Dhaka’s efforts in ship recycling, taking into consideration Bangladesh’s demands for the development of a storage, treatment, and disposal facility.
Speaking on the government’s move, Engineer Sheikh Faezul Amin, Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board’s acting director general, said that if the convention is not ratified by 2023, the possibilities of ratification in the future are going to be slim.
The convention is an international treaty that was adopted by the International Maritime Organization back in 2009 that lays down guidelines as well as standards for ship recycling activities, including the design, operation, construction, and vessel maintenance, as well as disposal of hazardous material.
The convention demands that vessels be dismantled at facilities that satisfy certain environmental and safety standards, and compliance is mandatory to remain in business. To facilitate compliance, yards involved in ship recycling all over the world must look at converting to green yards. Achieving compliance is going to prevent pollution from vessel recycling as yards are going to recycle vessels in an ecologically friendly manner, and the number of casualties and accidents will come down to almost zero.
Md Mominur Rashid, the deputy secretary of the industries ministry, emphasized that the vessel recycling industry has been a major contributor to the nation’s economy.
He said that if the yards based in Bangladesh adopt proper processes to become convention-compliant, developed nations will offer vessels for recycling, which will, in turn, significantly boost the sector’s contribution to the economy.
This, in turn, is going to enhance Bangladesh’s image on the global platform, Rashid mentioned, adding that there is a huge opportunity for growth in the industry, given that approximately 45,000 vessels are operating in the whole world, with only 600–700 being recycled per year.
He said that the cheap labor of Bangladesh makes it a significant destination for vessel recycling.
Industry owners, however, said that the ratification of the convention will need significant investment in infrastructure and the training of workers. The vessel recycling industry in Bangladesh has an annual capacity of more than 10 million tons, with nearly 167 vessel recycling yards.
Mohammed Shahin Alam, a yard owner, said that the convention implementation needs developing facilities that satisfy the convention’s standards, which further includes the provision of appropriate equipment as well as facilities for the disposal of hazardous materials for implementing safe and environmentally sound practices.
Yard owners are going to establish similar facilities that will need an investment of Tk 40–50 crore per existing yard.
We urge the government to offer a low-interest loan to help facilitate conversions to green yards, Alam informed TBS.
Per insiders in the vessel recycling industry, it plays a vital role in the overall sustainable development of the nation. Approximately, 60-70% of the nation’s overall iron demands come from the vessel recycling industry, with about 20,000 individuals directly employed and around 80,000 people indirectly dependent on the industry.
The industry has been contributing heavily to the nation’s economy and can contribute even more if proper processes are adopted.
The income from this sector is over $800 million per year and offers $100–120 million in terms of revenue to the government.
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