IHM (Inventory of Hazardous Materials) Preparation and Maintenance
Objectives of IHM
The objectives of the IHM are to provide ship-specific information on the actual hazardous materials present on board in order to protect the health and safety of the crew and to protect health and safety of workers at ship recycling facilities and avoid environmental pollution when the ship is going for recycling.
The IHM consists of three parts:
PartI: Materials contained in ship structure or equipment. Part I of the IHM shall be developed for new and existing ships.
Part II and Part III: Operationally generated wastes and stores. These Parts shall be developed prior to recycling of the ship. As it is unlikely that your good vessels will be recycled in the here considered period, Parts II and III are not addressed in this introduction.
IHM Regulation and Implementation
EU SRR (European Union Ship Recycling Regulation), has entered into force in 31.12.2013, states that all vessels over 500 GT flying under European flag or arriving in European ports and EFTA countries must all carry a valid IHM on-board. In addition, the inventory list will have to be updated throughout the operational life of the vessel.
Implementation of this regulation is:
From 31.12.2018: New buildings and ships going for recycling must carry IHM on-board
From 31.12.2020: All existing vessels must carry IHM on-board
This implies that after 2020 ships without IHM on-board will not be allowed to enter or anchor at EU and EFTA ports. Therefore, shipowners should act proactively and start planning for the new regulation. This to avoid the rush and operational disruptions when all ships need to have the IHM at once.
IHM (Inventory of Hazardous Materials)
Almost all vessels contain a number of substances hazardous to the environment and human health. Substances like asbestos, PCB, TBT which can lead to life-threatening diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer if not handled correctly. With an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), owners will know what’s inside your ship. By identifying the Hazardous materials on-board, you can ensure the safety of crew members through the vessels working life and assure safe handling of the materials at the point of recycling.
Based on the necessary information and documentation collected from the ship-owners, our certified surveyor will enter your good vessel and take samples to send accredited laboratories. An inventory will be issued based on the findings, listing all hazardous materials on-board, including their amounts and location. This inventory (IHM) will thereafter be certified by the Classification Societies, like DNV GL, ABS or Lloyd’s Register.