CRIMA organized the 3rd National Maritime Conference (NMC – 2024) themed as ‘The Hong Kong Convention: Transforming Ship Recycling for a Safer Environment’. The conference offered pragmatic perspectives by experts from academia, field and business professionals. Dr Waqasia Naeem, Assistant Director CRIMA, introduced the themes of the conference and requested Prof Dr Sajid Mehmood Shahzad, Vice Chancellor MUL for the opening remarks. He extended warm welcome to esteemed participants, scholars, and experts. Prof Shahzad highlighted the significance of generating academic discourse on the crucial topic of ship recycling under the framework of the Hong Kong Convention.

This international agreement aims to ensure the safe and environmentally responsible ship recycling practices for workers. The distinguished presenters included Commander Anees Muhammad Khan (Retd), Senior Research Officer at National Institute of Maritime Affairs, NIMA, Islamabad; Dr Maliha Zeba Khan, Assistant Professor, National University of Modern Languages, NUML, Islamabad; Mr Abdul Rahman, Industrial Hygienist Officer, Labour Welfare Department, Government of Balochistan; Dr Nuzhat Khan, CEO/Founder BlueNet Plus; and Mr Javed Iqbal, CEO, Shoaib Shipping Agencies, Karachi / Gadani. The speakers shed light on the conference’s subthemes such as implementing the Hong Kong Convention: global strategies and regional challenges; safety first: best practices and innovations to protect workers in the ship recycling industry; environmental protection in ship recycling: managing hazardous materials and waste; and the role of technology and innovation in advancing sustainable ship recycling. At the end of the conference, Dr Muhammad Ishfaq, Director CRIMA, added that the Hong Kong Convention is not just a regulatory measure; it is a call to action for the maritime industry, urging all stakeholders to commit to sustainable practices that safeguard human health and the environment. By working together, sharing best practices, and embracing innovation, we can reshape ship recycling into a responsible and sustainable industry that benefits everyone involved and protects our planet for generations to come. The conference ended with the pledge to create a sustainable ship recycling practices that will help our communities to grow and sustain.