Yes. Under the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Act 2018, a facility must be authorised by the Board created under that Act, and since the Hong Kong Convention entered into force in 2025, the authorisation must reflect the Convention's standards. A yard is expected to have an approved facility plan, environmental clearance and systems for safety, training and hazardous waste. Authorisation may carry conditions, may be time-limited and can be suspended for serious breaches. Buyers and shipowners increasingly ask to see these documents before agreeing a sale, so yards should keep them current and readily available for inspection.

It is a plan prepared for an individual vessel, based on its Inventory of Hazardous Materials and the yard's approved facility plan, describing how that ship will be safely and soundly dismantled. It covers matters such as gas-freeing, removal of hazardous materials, the order of cutting, waste management and worker protection. The plan must be approved before recycling begins. Inconsistencies between the inventory, the plan and what is actually found on board are a frequent cause of delay and cost. We help yards and buyers prepare consistent documents and respond to queries from the authority and the flag state.

Since 26 June 2025, ships covered by the Convention may only be recycled at facilities authorised in line with its standards, and they must carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials and an international ready for recycling certificate issued on behalf of the flag state. Yards need approved facility plans and ship-specific plans, and the Board must supervise compliance. Many Bangladesh yards invested in upgrades and third-party statements of compliance before entry into force. The Convention has also raised buyers' due diligence expectations, so contracts now include detailed compliance warranties, documentation duties and remedies for any breach.

Ships flagged in European Union member states are subject to European Union rules that require recycling at facilities included on the European List of approved ship recycling facilities. A Bangladesh yard can only accept such ships if it appears on that list, so EU-flagged ship recycling in Bangladesh depends on each yard's listing status at the time. Some owners have changed flag before sale, which raises separate legal and reputational questions under EU and other rules. We advise on the position of a particular vessel and on contractual protections where flag or listing status is uncertain.

Responsibility depends on the contract chain and the regulatory framework. The shipowner is generally responsible for preparing and maintaining the inventory, the flag state or recognised organisation verifies it, and the yard plans its work on that basis. If undeclared hazardous materials are found, the yard may face extra cost, delay and regulatory exposure, and will look to the cash buyer, which in turn looks to the seller. Well-drafted warranties, indemnities, inspection rights and price adjustment clauses reduce these disputes. We advise on contract terms in advance and on recovery where an inaccurate inventory has caused loss.

The process typically involves the yard's authorisation and approved plans, approval of the ship-specific plan, import documentation and letters of credit through a Bangladeshi bank, customs procedures and valuation, port and coast guard clearances for arrival and beaching, and gas-free and safe-for-hot-work certification before cutting begins. Environmental clearance conditions also apply. The order of these steps matters, because a ship that arrives before approvals are in place can incur heavy costs while waiting at anchorage. We map the sequence for each vessel and coordinate with the agencies, agents and surveyors involved.

A serious accident triggers obligations under labour and safety law, including reporting, compensation and cooperation with inspections, and may lead to police investigation and regulatory action by the Board and the Department of Environment, including suspension of work. Families may bring compensation claims, and buyers and shipowners may review their relationships with the yard. The immediate priorities are care for the injured, preserving evidence and making accurate reports. We help yards manage investigations, cooperate with the authorities, settle claims fairly and lawfully, and prepare remediation plans that address the underlying causes of the incident.

Yes, in appropriate cases. A yard should first respond to any show cause notice with a full factual account, documents and a credible plan to correct the issues identified, because many concerns can be resolved at that stage. If the authority suspends or cancels authorisation without proper process or on an unreasonable basis, the yard may seek review within the administrative framework or challenge the decision through a writ petition in the High Court Division. Interim relief may be available in some cases. We advise on the merits, prepare the response and represent yards in hearings and proceedings.