IHM – Inventory of Hazardous Material

What is the IHM?

The IHM (Inventory of Hazardous Materials) is a document, describing in detail all the existing hazardous materials onboard a ship. This inventory defines the quantity and illustrates the location of these materials which are potentially hazardous to people and the environment. These hazardous materials are detailed in the IMO Hong Kong Convention and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation.

The IHM consists of three parts:

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

Who needs to comply?

According to the EU SRR, all ships, submersibles, floating platforms, etc. flying the flag of a Member State, or ships flying the flag of a third country and calling at a port or anchorage of a Member State with a gross tonnage greater than 500 GT.

Exempted from the aforementioned regulation are the warships, the naval auxiliaries, and other ships owned or operated by a state and used for non-commercial purposes, as well as ships operating throughout their life only in waters subject to the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the Member State whose flag the ship is flying.

What happens in case of non compliance

In case an inspection is carried out by the relevant authorities of a Member State and the ship fails to provide a valid IHM, the ship may be warned, detained, dismissed or excluded from the ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of this Member State.

What is the basic procedure for complying with the regulation

There are some basic steps that need to be followed for the development of an IHM and the subsequent completion of the process for existing ships:

  • Collection of the required information: ship drawings, specifications, manuals, etc.
  • Assessment of the collected information.
  • Preparation of the Visual/Sampling Check Plan.
  • Onboard Visual/Sampling survey
  • Sampling analyzes
  • Preparation of Part I of the IHM
  • Submission to the Class
  • Verification of the submitted IHM and issuance of a Statement of Compliance

IHM Regulations

In the following links you can find the most important Regulations related to the inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), together with the accompanying Guidelines for the implementation of them, as well as a timeline with all the critical dates.

Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally

Regulation EU No 1257 2013 On Ship Recycling

Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (1)

EMSA Guidance on the Inventory of Hazardous Materials

IHM Services Offered by FMS

Development of Part I, II & III of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials

  • for new ships
  • for existing ships
  • for ships to be recycled
  • for the offshore industry
Follow-up support.
Assistance on maintenance of the IHM.
Consulting and supervision of handling and removal of hazardous materials.
Recycling planning and supervision.
Environmental audit.
Hazmat training.

We are Flexible, fast and independent, our experts are certified to perform the IHM reports and to make the analyses and we can be presence in all major ports around the world whit in hours, our services are available when ever and where ever you need us to join you vessel.

We are on standby 24 hours a day on +298 610000 and fms@fms.fo