What does the Hong Kong Convention take into account regarding ships at scrap?

• A. They must be repurposed as offshore platforms
• B. They must be kept in service longer
• C. They contain environmentally hazardous substances
• D. They must be sold to private buyers only

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that the Hong Kong Convention focuses on managing hazardous materials on ships to prevent environmental and health risks during recycling. It recognizes that ships often contain environmentally hazardous substances such as asbestos, PCBs, refrigerants with ozone-depleting substances, heavy metals, and other hazardous wastes. Because of this, the convention requires measures like an Inventory of Hazardous Materials for each ship, proper surveys and certification, and the use of recycling yards that can safely handle and dispose of these materials. The other options don’t fit because the convention is not about repurposing ships as offshore platforms, extending their service life, or restricting sales to private buyers; its core purpose is to ensure safe and environmentally sound ship recycling due to hazardous substances.