HMM has become the first South Korean shipping company to recycle discarded nylon mooring ropes, following in the footsteps of a similar initiative started by Norwegian car carrier owner Wallenius Wilhelmsen in September 2022.
South Korea’s flagship carrier will work with compatriot ocean waste recycling specialist Foresys to collect and treat discarded nylon mooring ropes.
HMM said that it usually incinerates or disposes of old ropes and this practice is not sustainable.
Anchored ships are secured to the port using 20 ropes of mooring lines. Usually, the ropes are replaced every five to seven years as worn-out ropes could affect the safety of ships and seafarers. HMM has been landfilling or incinerating about 20 tonnes of waste mooring lines annually.
HMM and Foresys have established a circulation system that produces recycled nylon raw materials after removing and processing salt and foreign substances on the surface of discarded mooring lines with eco-friendly technology.
On a weight basis, 80-90% of scrapped mooring lines are recycled.
Raw materials produced in the form of pellets or yarns are made into nylon material products such as clothing, miscellaneous goods, and household goods.
Besides this latest scheme, since last year, HMM has been recycling PET bottles discarded from its ships, as part of the company’s participation in Incheon Port’s Resource Circular Economy Project. The bottles are recycled into clothing.
HMM said, “As eco-friendliness and carbon neutrality are emerging as hot topics in the shipping industry, not only ships but also marine environments, must be sustainable.”
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
