EPE S.A., First Greek GL Certified IHM Provider

MarineLink.com April 22, 2013

Milestone in further strengthening the collaboration: Handover of HazMat Company approval Certificate to EPE The ceremony was attended by Ms. Helen Polychronopoulou, Executive Vice-President of EPE; Mr. Ioannis Polychronopoulos, President of EPE; Mr. Athanasios Polychronopoulos, Managing Director of EPE; Mr. Gerhard Aulbert, GL Global Head of Practice Ship Recycling - Hamburg; Mr. Konstantinos Vasileiadis and Mr. Aristides Efstathiou, Representatives of GL Piraeus (Photo: EPE)

Environmental Protection Engineering S.A.(EPE) has become the first Greek company to obtain certification from classification society Germanischer Lloyd.

GL is a certified provider of Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) services. EPE becomes one of only a handful of companies worldwide that are able to offer IHM in compliance with the Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships and the Guidelines for the Development of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials.

EPE HazMat Expert, Mr. Fotis Ploumitsakos said, "This certification is the capstone of cooperation with GL that has developed over the last three years and has resulted in the training and certification of EPE's technicians as Hazardous Materials Experts. It is the result of a continuous process of improvement in our services that our company has undertaken for more than 35 years. We have already completed an important number of IHM or asbestos surveys on vessels and more than 1,000 marine and land asbestos removal projects, and this certification is a clear sign that we have taken another step in furthering our goal to deliver innovative services and products to protect the environment and human life". EPE provides its services worldwide in a short notice & promotes fleet packages on IHM from which ship-owners can have a real benefit. With GL's support and guidance we are confident we can continue to meet the highest criteria set by the global shipping market.

EPE cooperates with POLYECO S.A., the only fully licensed waste management industry in Greece, which operates the most efficient environmental analysis laboratory.

Mr. Gerhard Aulbert, Global Head of Practice Ship Recycling, GL said, "Upcoming new EU regulations on sustainable ship recycling and the existing Hong Kong Convention and the IHM Guidelines are some of the most important steps in the maritime industry's push to become more environmentally responsible. They are important recognition that we cannot consider a vessel's construction, operation and final disposal as a series of unconnected steps, but as a holistic process where we continually seek to minimize its negative environmental impact. Training and certification of HazMat experts are a vital part of this in assisting the industry to meet valid regulations and we are pleased to be able to cooperate with such a strong partner as EPE."

The EU regulations and "Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009" are expected to come into force commencing in 2015. The aim is to minimize the environmental and occupational health risks of ship recycling, in the most effective, efficient and sustainable way. In line with the IHM guidelines new and existing ships will have to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials

(IHM) and the related International Certificate of Inventory of Hazardous Materials (ICIHM) onboard. Some 50,000 existing ships will have to obtain the ICIHM within five years, and new-buildings from the beginning of their operational life.

www.epe.gr