Press Release: Verifavia Shipping has partnered with OSM Maritime Group, a leading provider of technical and digital asset management services to provide Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) services. This partnership increases the total number of vessels under IHM contract with Verifavia to more than 550.
Verifavia’s specialist hazmat team – one of the largest in-house teams in the industry – will be conducting investigations in line with the terms of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) and the Hong Kong (HK) International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. Leading class society DNV GL will then certify the results.
From 31 December 2020, the EU SRR will apply to new EU-flagged ships and EU-flagged ships going for dismantling, and will affect all existing EU-flagged ships as well as ships flying the flag of a third country and calling at an EU port or anchorage. The regulation prohibits or restricts the installation and use of hazardous materials (like asbestos or ozone-depleting substances) on board ships, as well as making it mandatory for ships to carry on board a certified IHM specifying the location and approximate quantities of those materials. The EU SRR also requires the IHM to be updated throughout the ship’s operational life, whether items and equipment are installed, modernised or replaced.
Kim Christensen, Fleet Director, OSM Maritime Group, commented: “It is essential for vessels to have, and maintain, accurate and up to date IHM certification and we look forward to working with Verifavia and DNV GL to provide a thorough and independent service. We are impressed with the quality and consistency and Verifavia’s approach and we look forward to working with the team going forward.”
Verifavia’s IHM services involve the preparation of a Visual Ship Check Plan followed by the onboard collection of samples and analysis from a certified, independent laboratory. This is then developed into a report and shared with the respective class society for final cross-checking, verification, and certification. The process enables the identification of any hazardous materials that need to be removed when preparing the ship for recycling. In addition to the IHM initial survey, Verifavia can work with ship owners, managers and class societies to develop and implement a robust IHM maintenance procedure to ensure that, in line with the regulation’s requirements, it is constantly updated and to facilitate the renewal survey after five years.
Julien Dufour, CEO, Verifavia Shipping, concluded: “Having established Verifavia Shipping-IHM (Singapore) Pte Ltd in September last year to complement existing regional offices across the world, we provide a truly global service to our customers. Our full-time hazmat experts span India, China, Hong Kong, Greece, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, and the USA. And as ex-seafarers, they all have the essential knowledge that enables them to work with the vessel crew reliably and efficiently. We remain committed to providing specialist IHM expertise on a global level at a competitive price. With more than 550 vessels under contract from companies including OSM Maritime Group, Wallem, Vinnen, Attica and Zeaborn, this is testament to the quality of our work and expertise of our people.”
Approved by the Korean Register, Indian Register of Shipping, ABS Group, Lloyd’s Register, RINA and DNV GL, Verifavia Shipping also provides IHM services for Class NK and is in the process of being approved as a HazMat Expert Company by additional classification societies.
Image Caption: Mohit Sarin, Verifivia Shipping IHM surveyor based in Paris
