What is Inventory of Hazardous Materials?

ABS nautical systems: Compliance Management

Hazardous materials are handled onboard daily, exposing crew, ships and the environment to potential risk. If these materials are not properly recorded, ship owners can face significant liability.

An Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) helps ship owners maintain control of hazardous materials by detailing the types, quantities and locations of such materials onboard each vessel.

Most importantly, a thorough and accurate IHM is required for compliance with the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) and the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. With the deadline to comply with IHM requirements quickly approaching, ship owners must prepare to act now.

Achieving IHM Compliance: A 3-Step Guide

1- Plan for the IHM Compliance Deadline

Ship owners should keep in mind that the entire process for IHM compliance can take up to 3 months. While the delay caused by COVID-19 is unprecedented, it represents only a 6-month period since the adoption of the EU SRR 7 years ago.

Starting 31 December 2020, any ship which is 500 GT or over, regardless of flag, will require a valid and certified IHM onboard if calling at an EU port or anchorage. Non-EU flagged vessels can also be certified against EU SRR by complying with the HKC IHM requirements.

The IHM consists of three parts:

• Part I: Hazardous materials contained in the ship's structure and equipment
• Part II: Operationally generated waste
• Part III: Stores

2- Gain IHM Compliance

Owners need a seamless and effective way to meet IHM requirements. The ABS Nautical Systems (NS) Asset Management software solution can guide owners and operators through this process.

To help global mariners comply with the IHM requirements, NS has launched comprehensive capabilities that are fully integrated into the existing NS Maintenance Manager and NS Purchasing Manager software modules. 

Key IHM compliance features will:

• Identify equipment, spaces and structures that contain hazardous materials
• Produce an Inventory of Hazardous Materials report in an approved format
• Identify spare parts that are hazardous, including hazard type and quantity of hazardous material per part
• Capture initial inventory using an Export Excel tool
• Provide automatic updates for IHM Part I through standard maintenance and purchasing processes
• Document required periodic audits of inventory in the HSQE and Vetting Manager module 

ABS Nautical Systems Inventory of Hazardous Materials Features

3- Maintain IHM Compliance

As the deadline to achieve IHM Certification approaches, the focus will soon shift to how to best demonstrate and maintain compliance with IHM requirements. IHM documentation is crucial, as it stays with the ship throughout its operational lifetime. Keeping information up to date is important not only to demonstrate compliance but to minimize the risk and potential liability of the crew and ship.

Nautical Systems IHM Compliance capabilities will provide the tools to maintain long-term compliance simply. With a unified approach to planning, NS software records data seamlessly, integrating the complexities of reporting into daily onboard activities. Created to meet the compliance challenges of the maritime industry, our tools facilitate planning, execution and documentation of all compliance activities.

About ABS Nautical Systems

ABS Nautical Systems is recognized as the leader in maritime fleet management software, supporting Digital Transformation across marine assets and providing powerful business intelligence solutions for a complex world. Our reliability-based software and compliance management solutions have helped mariners solve real-world operational challenges for over 30 years. Today, our advanced software platform supports faster, more accurate decision-making to help the marine and offshore industries improve efficiency, ensure safety and drive performance. Learn more about ABS Nautical Systems software solutions and services.