As of today, June 26, the Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships (HKC) officially enters into force. It marks a long-awaited turning point in how the world dismantles and recycles end-of-life vessels.

Over two decades in the making, the convention—for which full compliance is not obligatory before 2030—sets global standards for shipowners, flag states, and recycling yards, seeking to bring long-overdue accountability to an industry plagued by safety and environmental abuses.