Nye standarder for ansvarlig resirkulering av skip

Ship recycling may entail risks to people and environment, and is a key ESG issue in the shipping and offshore industries. The banks in RSRS support the efforts to improve the recycling practices. 

Recycling practices of ships and mobile offshore units can have negative environmental and social (“E&S”) consequences, especially in jurisdictions with limited E&S regulations and/or regulatory enforcement. Potential negative impacts of ship recycling include environmental damage, occupational health and safety risks, human rights and labour risks as well as community health and safety exposure. 

The RSRS banks (the “Banks”) recognize that recycling of ships and mobile offshore units is an integrated part of the shipping and offshore industries’ value chains. As part of the Banks’ desire to minimize the impact on the environment and society that results from poor recycling practices, the Banks agree to apply the Responsible Ship Recycling Standards (“RSRS”) with clear expectations upon themselves and to their clients as set out below. 

The RSRS are applicable to debt financing of movable maritime assets (including Vessels and Mobile Offshore Units, hereinafter referred to as “Ship” or “Ships”) which are pledged as security for a loan and/or Ships which the client controls. 

The Banks aim to support the shipping and offshore industries in improving recycling practices, and encourage our clients to take a value chain view of their assets; to make informed and responsible decisions on recycling based on appropriate environmental and social due diligence of the yards used for recycling; and to develop appropriate policies thereto and to be transparent on own practices. The Banks will review the RSRS periodically based on implementation experience and in order to reflect on-going learning and good practices. 

The Responsible Ship Recycling Standards are based on and support existing international regulations, conventions and generally accepted standards and principles. 

The application of RSRS specifically support the objectives of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (“EU SRR”) and the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (“HKC”). RSRS can contribute to several of the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Banks further recognize the importance of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises with their due diligence tools and other relevant international regulations, conventions and generally accepted standards and principles as listed in Appendix 2. 

The Banks commit to integrate RSRS in their ESG policies and lending practices and engage with their clients in the efforts to improve recycling practices via firm undertakings in their loan documentations1 . 

The Banks commit to: 

(i) integrate RSRS into their ESG policies and lending practices, and publicly state their commitment to RSRS; 

(ii) recognize in their ESG due diligence process, the applicable international standards, industry guidelines and their underlying principles to manage the negative impacts of recycling; 1 Clauses to be included in the appendix2 

(iii) not be directly involved in financing of unsustainable recycling facilities; 

(iv) not be involved in the financing of purchasers of Ships intended for unsustainable Ship recycling (such purchasers or intermediaries are sometimes referred to as ‘cash buyers’ in this context); 

(v) promote RSRS and the importance of responsible recycling in the shipping and offshore industries and the financial community, and encourage other banks to adopt the RSRS; and 

(vi) engage with clients in discussions around policies and practices relating to Ship recycling; based on good governance and including client’s approach to managing potential negative impacts so that Ships are recycled at recycling facilities with no release of harmful substances into the environment, with safe working conditions and good labour practices ensured for all workers. 

The Banks will, on a best effort basis: 

(vii) in financing transactions for new Ships only finance Ships that carry an Inventory of Hazardous Material (“IHM”) that should be maintained throughout the life of the loan. The IHM should meet the standards as defined in the EU SRR or the HKC; 

(viii) in relation to (re)financing transactions for existing Ship, require that the Ships shall carry and maintain an IHM; 

(ix) encourage clients to ensure that an IHM is prepared and maintained for each Ship in their existing fleet; 

(x) in relation to financing transactions for any Ships require that the Ship only shall be recycled in accordance with the regulations of the Hong Kong Convention and/or the EU Ship Recycling Regulation; 

(xi) encourage clients to be transparent and publicly state their commitment toward improved environmental and human rights performance, responsible recycling of Ships and the RSRS; and 

(xii) report annually on their webpage or via other relevant disclosures on the results of their implementation, as described in appendix 5 “Recommended minimum standard wording to be included in RSRS members annual reporting”. 

The Banks expect their clients to develop policies and practices for responsible Ship recycling, undertake appropriate due diligence of yards as basis for recycling decisions, and be transparent on own practices. 

The Banks expect their shipping and offshore clients to: 

(i) develop a policy with respect to responsible Ship recycling and publicly state their commitment toward improved environmental and human rights performance in Ship recycling operations; 

(ii) ensure that an IHM is prepared and maintained for each Ship in their existing fleet; 

(iii) If the opportunity exists to use less Hazardous Materials in the construction, without compromising safety or operational efficiency, it should be considered by the design and build team or recommended to the Ship owner as appropriate. Substances known to be hazardous which are prohibited or restricted by national regulations and international conventions or agreements are not to be used in the construction. 

(iv) undertake appropriate ESG due diligence of yards used for Ship recycling; 

(v) follow up the recycling process through inspections and reporting; 

(vi) be transparent on practices, disclose their Ships sent for recycling and their election of recycling facilities; 

(vii) include clauses with respect to responsible Ship recycling in sales contracts for Ships sold approaching end of life; and 

(viii) demonstrate reasonable efforts to act in line with both the letter and the spirit of the RSRS and applicable standards, industry guidelines and their underlying principles.

Please find the whole document here.

• ABN AMRO
  
• Danske Bank
• DNB
• Eksportkreditt
• Hamburg Commercial Bank
• ING
• KFW-IPEX-Bank
• NIBC
• Nordea
• SEB
• SpareBank 1 SR-Bank
• Sparebanken Vest