The International Maritime Organisation will hold a diplomatic conference on ship recycling from May 11 to 15 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The main purpose of the conference is to adopt the International Convention for the Safe & Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.

Being the first organiser in Asia will help enhance Hong Kong's reputation as an international maritime centre, Assistant Director of Marine (Multi-lateral Policy) Patrick Chun said today.

The new convention, if adopted, will impose certain requirements on ships' design, construction and operation, as well as their preparation for scrapyards at the end of their service life, to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling.

It will also regulate the operation of ship-recycling facilities to protect workers' health and safety and minimise any adverse impact on the environment.

The IMO is a United Nations agency specialising in regulating safety standards, marine environment protection measures and maritime security for international shipping