Poland will adapt ship recycling legislation to the Hong Kong Convention

The Council of Ministers has started work on changes in law, which are to adapt Polish regulations to the requirements of the Hong Kong International Convention on Safe and Environmental Recycling of Ships. The draft amendment includes a law on ship pollution prevention and selected maritime economic acts.

Information on planned changes has been included in the government's legislative work list.

Hong Kong Convention in Polish Legal Order

The purpose of the amendment is to fully align national rules with the standards of the Convention governing ship scrapping. This document sets out the requirements for the safe dismantling of vessels, reducing the risks to the environment and the workers of the demolition yards.

As indicated in the project's justification, the essential environmental standards already function within the framework of European Union law. However, the amendment is intended to address formal issues – first and foremost with regard to the issuance of certificates and the unambiguous indication of the administrative authorities responsible for supervising the recycling process.

Changes in water tracks

The project goes beyond the theme itself ship recycling. One important element is the modification of the rules for obtaining authorisations for sinking in the sea of land from dredging the bottom.

The obligation to obtain an administrative decision now lies with the shipowners. After the changes, it will be taken over by investors or general contractors who carry out dredging works. In practice, this may simplify the implementation of port investments and the maintenance work of the approach tracks.

An obligation will also be introduced to monitor landfill sites, which will increase control over the impact of these activities on the marine environment.

Fee update after nearly 20 years

The project also envisages a change in the amount of tax fees for granting authorisations for sinking in the sea of bottom dredging land and other substances.

The current rates have not been updated in nearly two decades. According to the amendments, their amount is to be adjusted to the current administrative costs.

Step Ordering System

The amendment does not fundamentally change the State's policy on the protection of the marine environment, but regulates competences and procedures. For industry This means, above all, greater formal transparency and adaptation of national law to international standards for ship scrapping.

In the context of the growing environmental requirements and the increased scale of port investment, the regulation appears necessary, although it will be crucial to see how the final design of the rules will affect the practice of applying them.