Bangladesh to halt NOCs for non-compliant Ship recycling yards, launches carbon dashboard to enforce compliance
The government targets having over 60 HKC-compliant yards by 2030. The new regulatory direction places environmental safety, transparency, and international alignment at the core of operations.
Bangladesh has announced that, from June 26, 2025, it will no longer issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to ship recycling yards that fail to meet Hong Kong Convention (HKC) standards. The move signals a major policy shift toward sustainable and compliant recycling practices.
This transition is supported by a new Carbon & Compliance Dashboard to introduce real-time, data-driven governance. The government is also amending the Ship Recycling Act 2018 and Ship Recycling Rules 2011 to institutionalise HKC compliance.
A dedicated Compliance Monitoring Cell has been set up under the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board (BSRB). The government targets having over 60 HKC-compliant yards by 2030. The new regulatory direction places environmental safety, transparency, and international alignment at the core of operations.
At a seminar held in Chattogram today (30 July), BSRB Director General ASM Shafiul Alam Talukder said only 13 of 153 operational yards currently meet HKC standards. The gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity to redefine Bangladesh's global standing in ship recycling.
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The event, titled "Advancing Rustamatie Ship Recycling in Bangladesh," was jointly organised by JICA and the Ministry of Industries.
With JICA's technical and policy support, Bangladesh is conducting infrastructure audits, modernising yard layouts, and aligning operational practices with international standards.
A national training institute and a carbon trading pilot project, both in partnership with Japan, are set to launch in 2026. These initiatives aim to build local capacity and promote environmental best practices across the industry.
High-level speakers included officials from MLIT Japan, BUET, ClassNK, and representatives from leading Japanese shipping lines like K-Line, MOL, NYK-Line, and NS United. Industry leaders and government officials stressed that responsible recycling is vital for worker safety and global competitiveness.
Participants called for greater financial support, easier loans, and international funding to help yards meet compliance standards amid rising capital costs and market fluctuations.
Handling 34.6% of global dismantling tonnage, Bangladesh's success in HKC alignment could reshape the global ship recycling landscape.
"Bangladesh is no longer following the tide," said Talukder. "With Japan as our partner, we are steering toward a cleaner, safer, and globally respected industry."
