Why It Matters
On 18 November 2025 the French Government issued Decree 2025 1094 confirming publication of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. Appearing in the Journal Officiel on 20 November the decree provides a new legal anchor for responsible end of life vessel management. France joins twenty three other parties that collectively represent more than half of global merchant tonnage a milestone that triggered the convention entry into force on 26 June 2025.
Key Provisions
The convention sets a uniform framework covering:
1. Design construction and operation requirements that facilitate future dismantling.
2. Mandatory Inventories of Hazardous Materials for ships above 500 gross tonnage.
3. Authorisation and continuous monitoring of recycling facilities.
4. Certification reporting and survey mechanisms ensuring full transparency.
By embedding these obligations into domestic law France strengthens the compliance toolkit of flag and port administrations and offers clear guidance to shipowners financiers and insurers operating under the French flag.
A Non-Obvious Opportunity
With a firm regulatory foundation French engineering firms can pioneer modular decontamination units and digital inventory platforms that recycling yards worldwide will need to meet verification deadlines. Early movers gain a strategic export advantage because every ship visiting a French port must now carry validated hazardous material data. This legal certainty encourages green investment
clusters near French Atlantic and Mediterranean shipyards turning compliance into regional economic renewal.
Conclusion
Decree 2025 1094 shows how decisive policy can transform an environmental obligation into a catalyst for innovation safer workplaces and circular economy growth. By championing the Hong Kong Convention France underscores its maritime ambition and invites industry stakeholders to build cleaner competitive recycling solutions for tomorrow. The decree therefore signals long term policy stability for investors focused on circular maritime solutions.