JAPANESE SHIPOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
Kaiun Building, 2-6-4, Hirakawa-cho
Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 102-8603, Japan
Tel : +81-3-3264-7177
Fax : +81-3-5226-9166
E-mail: mar-div@jsanet.or.jp

25 May 2023

JSA Delegation to Bangladesh – To Encourage Green Ship Recycling
18 to 22 May 2023
Confirmed Bangladeshi policy to conclude HKC (Hong Kong Convention) early this year
andRecognised raised awareness by local yard owners towards upgrading themselves

The Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA) sent its delegation to Bangladesh from 18 to 22May.

The delegation was headed by Mr Keiji Tomoda, Vice President, and comprised 4 four JSA

member companies (“K” Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, NS United Kaiun and NYK Line), the Maritime
Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, ClassNK and experts.

For

the JSA, it was its third visit to Bangladesh.
In Dhaka, the delegation met H.E. Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Minister for Industries; H.E.
Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, State Minister; Ms Zakia Sultana, Secretary to the Government of thePeople’s Republic of Bangladesh; H.E. Kiminori Iwama, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh; H.E.
Espen Rikter-Svendsen, Ambassador of Norway to Bangladesh; and Mr Tomohide Ichiguchi, Chief
Representative of the JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Bangladesh Office.

MrTomoda presented the JSA’s footprint to date towards the early entry into effect of the HKC, including
our lobbying to major ship recycling nations and ship registering nations, and urged the utmost
importance of Bangladeshi ratification, which is the key to HKC’s entry into force, and theiracceleration in yard upgrading works.
At the meeting with the Ministry of Industries, both government representatives reconfirmed theimportance of cooperation in ship recycling based on the Joint Statement of the Japan-Bangladesh
Summit Meeting held in Tokyo on 26 April 2023 and the Cooperative Memorandum on Ship
Recycling, concluded on that occasion. The Bangladeshi side replied that they intended to conclude
their domestic procedures for the HKC ratification by next month at the earliest. They also
requested Japan’s earliest support concerning the TSDF (Treatment Storage Disposal Facility)
project.
The delegation also went to Chottogram (Chittagong), which is a well-known ship recycling base in
Bangladesh, participated in a dialogue meeting with the BSBRA (Bangladesh Ship Breakers andRecyclers Association) and visited six recycling yards there.

Mr Tomoda repeated his argumentsthat the ratification by Bangladesh, which was the number-one country in ship recycling, would

enable the HKC to enter into force, thus surely contributing to the environmental conservation of theworld and leading to mutual benefits for shipowners and recyclers.

His arguments were wellreceived there.
It was perceived that local ship recyclers had deepened their awareness on the significance of theratification of the HKC and management of yards, which satisfies the treaty requirements, and many
recyclers had shown their serious attitude to listen to shipowners’ suggestions and to swiftly react tothem. The delegation felt steady steps had been made by local recyclers, especially those whoowned multiple yards, towards upgrading works. In the meantime, the local recyclers also urged theJapanese side to financially support the TSDF project and to increase the number of vessels to bereleased in Bangladesh. In addition, they explained their problem in financing to upgrade theirfacilities.
Concerning our “Challenge to Net Zero by 2050”, Mr Tomoda expressed the JSA’s expectations on
the rapid expansion of the HKC SoC yards in Bangladesh in order to receive old vessels which werereplaced by new green vessels, and promised to recommend our members and international
colleagues to use such yards as part of our effort to secure sufficient HKC-compliant yards in multiple
countries. The delegation observed the current situation at the sites regarding labour safety andenvironmental protection and suggested to the recyclers that “attainment in safety and reliability”
would be the key to be a selected yard, which was well received.
The JSA will continue to hold regular dialogues with ship recyclers in parallel to intergovernmental
meetings in order to encourage the earliest ratification by Bangladesh and the expansion of the HKCcompliant yards. We will also deepen the official and private cooperation with Norway in order towiden the circle, involving international shipping organisations to support the effort by Bangladesh.

Meeting with DOI: From the front, 8th personclockwise is Minister Humayun (grey jacket, white
shirt without tie)

Meeting with Norwegian Ambassador: Front row, fromthe left, 3rd person, Mr Tomoda (JSA/with light red tie),
Ambassador Rikter-Svendsen, Mr Yoshida (MLIT/with lightgrey tie)

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