Why is an Inventory of Hazardous Materials important?

Ships can contain hazardous substances that may present risks to human health, worker safety and the environment. These substances can be present in construction materials, coatings, equipment, machinery and other components throughout a vessel.

An Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) provides a documented record of relevant hazardous materials onboard a ship throughout its lifecycle, from construction and operation through to preparation for recycling.

Accurate identification and documentation of hazardous materials can help organisations:

• Support regulatory compliance
• Protect crew and worker health and safety
• Reduce potential environmental risks
• Support safe and responsible ship recycling
• Improve hazardous material management throughout the vessel lifecycle
• Reduce potential operational and regulatory risks

Ship recycling regulations and IHM requirements

The EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) establishes requirements for the management and documentation of hazardous materials on ships within its scope.

IHM requirements are relevant to new and existing vessels and form an important part of preparing ships for safe and environmentally sound recycling.

The Hong Kong Convention also establishes an international framework for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships, including requirements relating to the preparation and maintenance of an Inventory of Hazardous Materials.

Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date IHM helps ship owners and operators demonstrate that hazardous materials have been identified and documented in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Our IHM testing and inspection services

Eurofins Environment Testing provides laboratory testing and inspection services for hazardous materials identified as part of IHM preparation and verification.

Our analytical laboratories use advanced testing techniques to detect and quantify hazardous substances in ship materials, equipment and components.

Our services can support:

• Initial IHM preparation
• Hazardous material identification
• Material sampling and laboratory analysis
• IHM verification and documentation
• Existing IHM updates and maintenance
• Pre-recycling hazardous material assessment
• Regulatory and classification requirements

Eurofins Environment Testing is also approved by China Classification Society (CCS) for hazardous materials testing, supporting the needs of the maritime and ship recycling industries.

Hazardous materials covered by our testing

Our IHM-related testing can cover a range of hazardous substances identified under applicable ship recycling requirements.

Part A – Hazardous materials
Depending on the applicable regulatory requirements, testing may include:

• Asbestos
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Ozone-depleting substances, including CFCs, HCFCs and Halons
• Organotin compounds in anti-fouling systems
• Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)

Part B – Additional hazardous materials
Testing may also cover additional hazardous substances, including:

• Cadmium and its compounds
• Hexavalent chromium and its compounds
• Lead and its compounds
• Mercury and its compounds
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
• Polychlorinated naphthalenes
• Radioactive substances
• Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs)
• Brominated flame retardants, including HBCDD

The specific substances and testing requirements applicable to a vessel depend on the relevant regulation, vessel characteristics and IHM requirements.

Hazardous materials testing for ships

Hazardous substances can be found in a wide range of ship materials and components, including insulation, coatings, electrical equipment, machinery, structural materials and other installed products.

Laboratory analysis provides objective information to help identify hazardous substances and determine their presence or concentration where applicable.

Our testing services can support ship owners and other maritime stakeholders in building reliable IHM records and making informed decisions about hazardous material management.

Supporting safe and sustainable ship recycling

Effective hazardous materials identification is an important part of safe ship recycling.

Accurate testing and documentation can help ship owners and operators:

• Identify hazardous materials before recycling
• Improve onboard and worker safety
• Support appropriate handling and removal procedures
• Reduce potential environmental impacts
• Provide information to ship recycling facilities
• Support compliance with applicable ship recycling regulations
• Promote safer and more responsible vessel dismantling

By combining laboratory analysis with IHM-related testing and inspection services, Eurofins Environment Testing helps maritime organisations manage hazardous materials throughout the vessel lifecycle.

Why choose Eurofins Environment Testing for IHM testing?

Eurofins Environment Testing provides analytical expertise and laboratory testing capabilities to support the maritime industry's hazardous materials management requirements.

Our capabilities include:

• Hazardous materials testing using advanced analytical techniques
• IHM-focused laboratory analysis for a broad range of regulated substances
• Support for ship owners, operators and ship recycling stakeholders
• International regulatory expertise covering applicable ship recycling requirements
• China Classification Society (CCS) approval for hazardous materials testing
• Reliable analytical data to support IHM documentation and compliance activities

Who can benefit from IHM testing and inspection?

Our Inventory of Hazardous Materials services can support:

• Ship owners and ship operators
• Shipbuilders and shipyards
• Ship management companies
• Classification and maritime organisations
• Ship recycling facilities
• Marine consultants and surveyors
• Other organisations involved in vessel compliance and recycling