Episode 2: From Paper to Practice – Challenges and Realities of HKC Implementation

In Part 2 of the GMS podcast series on the Hong Kong Convention (HKC), we focus on what happened after the Convention was adopted in 2009. Why did it take 16 years to come into force? What practical and political challenges slowed down global adoption?

Host Henning is joined again by Dr. Nikos Mikelis, a central figure in HKC’s development, and Dr. Anand Hiremath, Chief Sustainability Officer at GMS, who has been directly involved in transforming ship recycling yards in South Asia.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Why HKC did not enter into force until 2025
• Misconceptions about compliance costs and operational impact
• Real-world transformation of yards in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
• The role of audits, training, and classification societies in verification
• How HKC compares with the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and Basel Convention

This episode highlights the practical journey from policy to real change, based on over a decade of on-the-ground work.

Register for the GMS HKC Webinar Series

To mark the entry into force of HKC on June 26, 2025, GMS is hosting a three-part live webinar series titled:
“HKC Compliance: What the Maritime Industry Needs to Know”

The first session, “From Convention to Transformation,” takes place on June 25, 2025.

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9417485435018/WN_kLd2bjyvRxuaO3ZnZ1o3jg

Join leaders from across the maritime sector to explore lessons from implementation and what global compliance means moving forward.

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