DHAKA: TUV Rheinland Group, a German based certification body and KfW-DEG, a German funding body in association with Bangladesh Ship breaker’s Association (BSBA) organized the Best Practice Exchange Forum and Certificate Award Ceremony under “Holistic Program for Sustainable, Environmentally Balanced and Safer Ship Recycling (SEB SSR) II, Project 2013 in Bangladesh” on February 19 at a hotel in Chittagong.
The forum was addressed by Dr Shanmuga Sundaram, Managing Director, TUV Rheinland Bangladesh Pvt Ltd.
Giving the details of project execution, Dharmesh Jani, Creative Consultants, 10 pilot companies were selected for aligning the ship yards with international standard ISO 30000 (Ship Recycling Management System) and OHSAS 18000 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System), said a press release.
Out of which, 5 yards have successfully completed and others could not meet the auditing criteria. He shared the different experience observed during execution of the project.
The companies who successfully cleared the certification process are--- Ali Steel Enterprise, Arefin Enterprise, S. N. Corporation (Shitalpur Yard), Bhatiyari Ship Breakers Ltd. and Prime Ship Breaker Ltd.
According to the release, the main objective of this event is to showcase the benefits of this program to pilot companies and exchange best practices and learning out of the SEB SSR Project as well as to build the mass awareness about the project amongst the ship breaking companies and educate them about the benefits of the project along with certificate award to qualified members.
More than 30 ship breaking companies participated in the event.
Yasmin Sultana, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Industries Bangladesh was also present during the event as chief guest, Abu Taher, President BSBA, as special guest and some leading activists and stakeholder connected with ship recycling industry.
Dr Sundaram, Managing Director, TUV Rheinland Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd. mentioned that the project was initially allocated for 20 months but because of political disturbance, the project extended further two months.
He also said that the project has been successful in terms of the implementation of the international standards and best management practices in the ship yards and this will certainly help the yards to meet the challenges they face in regards to environmental, health and safety issues in the ship yards.
Dr Sundaram continued that TUV Rheinland, KfW-DEG and all project partners shall ensure the sustainability of the project and keep a track of the activities and performance through surveillance audits and regular interaction.
BDST: 1803 HRS, FEB 22, 2015
