End-of-life ship (EoL)

An end-of-life ship is a vessel its owner has decided to recycle rather than keep trading, the point at which the ship-recycling regime takes over from the in-service class and statutory regime. Under the Hong Kong Convention, in force 26 June 2025, and EU Regulation 1257/2013, an EoL ship of 500 GT and above must carry a verified Inventory of Hazardous Materials, prepare a ship-specific Ship Recycling Plan, and go only to an authorized recycling facility. The owner obtains an International Ready for Recycling Certificate before delivery for scrapping. Resale to a cash buyer does not remove these duties; the last flag and the facility’s authorization govern the dismantling.