PHP family best in ship recycling: Zahirul Islam Rinku Receives BMLS Award
PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd. honoured for its commitment to environmentally responsible and sustainable ship recycling
DHAKA, October 8: PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd., a concern of PHP Family, has received recognition for its contribution to responsible, environmentally friendly and sustainable ship recycling in Bangladesh. The company won the Ship Recycling Award at the prestigious Bangladesh Maritime Law Society (BMLS) Shipbuilding and Ship Recycling Awards.
The award was presented at the BMLS Maritime Excellence Awards ceremony held at The Westin Dhaka on Thursday, October 8, as part of the observance of World Maritime Day. Farzanah Chowdhury, Managing Director of Green Delta Insurance, handed over the award to Mohammad Zahirul Islam Rinku, Managing Director of PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd. Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Captain Mohiuddin Abdul Kader, President of BMLS, were also present at the ceremony.
Hasib Uddin Molla, a third-generation member of PHP Family, accompanied Zahirul Islam Rinku at the event.
Under Rinku’s leadership, PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd. has focused on environmental protection, modern technology, occupational safety and sustainable industrial practices. The company has emerged as one of the pioneering initiatives in Bangladesh’s transition towards environmentally responsible ship recycling, with an emphasis on improving workplace safety and minimising environmental risks.
Industry observers believe that the company’s initiatives have contributed to efforts to bring Bangladesh’s ship recycling sector closer to international standards. Its emphasis on responsible recycling practices and environmental safeguards has also helped strengthen its standing within the domestic maritime industry and beyond.
Rinku is regarded in industrial circles as an entrepreneur with a long-term vision for the development of the sector. His leadership has supported efforts to modernise ship recycling operations and promote safer and more environmentally responsible industrial practices.
BMLS said the recognition reflects PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd.’s contribution to Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry and its continued commitment to responsible and sustainable practices in the maritime sector.
The award has also drawn positive attention from the business and industrial communities in Chattogram. Industry stakeholders believe that such recognition can encourage further investment in safer, more sustainable and environmentally responsible ship recycling practices across Bangladesh.
A Pioneer in Green Ship Recycling:
PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd. has been working towards environmentally responsible ship recycling since 2015, investing substantially in infrastructure, operational improvements and worker safety.
On October 10, 2017, the company received green certification from RINA, the Italian international classification society, recognising its ship recycling yard as compliant with the applicable green recycling requirements. The company has described its facility as a pioneering yard in Bangladesh operating in line with the principles of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
The transition to green ship recycling required an investment of approximately Tk 35 crore, according to information about the project. Although environmentally compliant yards involve significant infrastructure and operational costs, mechanised processes and improved safety systems can help reduce occupational risks and environmental hazards.
In mid-2018, PHP began recycling its first vessel at the green yard. The vessel, Oryx Victoria, was dismantled using mechanised methods. Built in 1989 at Japan’s Nippon Kokan shipyard, the specialised vessel had a reported weight of approximately 27,000 metric tonnes.
The green yard’s key features include measures to protect the surrounding environment and improve the safety of workers involved in ship recycling. These measures represent an important step towards more responsible end-of-life ship management in Bangladesh.
In recognition of its environmentally responsible operations, PHP Recycling also received an award and commendation from the Ministry of Shipping on September 30, 2021, on the occasion of World Maritime Day.
The latest BMLS award adds to the company’s record of recognition and reinforces the importance of continuing efforts to make Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry safer, more modern and environmentally sustainable.
