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IHM compliance is no longer a topic only for ship recycling yards. For ship owners, ship managers, procurement teams, sustainability officers, HSEQ managers and marine suppliers, the Inventory of Hazardous Materials has become part of daily purchasing, documentation and vessel lifecycle management.
In ship supply, the question is not only whether the item can be delivered on time. Buyers also need to know whether the supplied item contains hazardous materials that must be declared, tracked or supported with documentation.
This is why IHM compliance ship supplier processes matter. A supplier may deliver technical stores, chemicals, spare parts, deck equipment, electrical components, gaskets, insulation materials, paints, batteries or machinery parts. Some of these products may contain substances that are relevant to the vessel’s IHM records.
A well-structured IHM documentation process helps procurement teams avoid missing Material Declarations, incomplete Supplier’s Declarations of Conformity, poor traceability and last-minute compliance gaps during audits, class reviews or vessel lifecycle updates.
AVS Global Ship Supply & Catering supports ship owners, ship managers, procurement teams, sustainability officers and HSEQ managers with Technical Stores, marine chemicals, spare parts, deck supplies and global ship supply coordination across international ports.
For related technical and chemical categories, see Marine Chemicals. For wider sustainability context, review ESG in maritime procurement. For IHM-related supply requests, submit your requirement through Quick Quote.
IHM stands for Inventory of Hazardous Materials. It is a ship-specific inventory that identifies hazardous materials present in the ship’s structure and equipment, and in certain cases materials, wastes and stores relevant to recycling preparation.
The purpose of IHM is to improve safety, environmental protection and traceability during the vessel’s operational life and eventual recycling.
The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships was adopted by the IMO in 2009 and entered into force on 26 June 2025.
The Convention creates requirements for ships and ship recycling facilities. For vessels, one of the central requirements is to develop, maintain and verify an Inventory of Hazardous Materials.
Under the Hong Kong Convention framework, ships that go for recycling must carry an IHM specific to that vessel. The IHM supports safe recycling by identifying hazardous materials and helping recycling facilities plan the work properly.
The EU Ship Recycling Regulation also requires ships within its scope to carry an IHM. This includes EU-flagged ships and third-country ships calling at EU ports or anchorages, depending on the vessel type and regulatory scope.
For procurement teams, this means that IHM documentation is not only an end-of-life matter. During normal vessel operation, purchases and replacements may affect the vessel’s IHM records.
Ship suppliers are part of the IHM chain because new products may introduce hazardous materials onboard. If the supplier does not provide the correct declaration, the buyer may struggle to update the vessel’s IHM database.
Supplier documentation is especially important for:
Not every supply item requires the same level of documentation, but procurement teams should know which categories need IHM attention.
IHM focuses on hazardous materials that may be present in ship structure, equipment, components, coatings, systems, stores or waste streams depending on the IHM part and vessel situation.
For suppliers, the practical question is simple: does the delivered item contain a hazardous material that needs to be declared?
Materials commonly associated with IHM review may include:
The exact declaration requirement depends on the applicable regulation, IHM table, product type and vessel scope.
Ship suppliers should pay special attention when supplying:
These products may contain materials that need to be declared, even when the item looks routine from a purchasing perspective.
Marine chemicals may also require careful documentation. Some chemicals may be relevant to hazardous material tracking, safety data management, onboard storage and environmental control.
Procurement teams should not treat chemical purchases as simple consumables. The Safety Data Sheet, product composition, hazard classification and intended onboard use should be reviewed.
For chemical procurement context, see Marine Chemicals.
IHM is mainly connected with hazardous material inventory and ship recycling, but it also supports wider environmental management. Buyers and HSEQ teams often connect IHM with broader pollution prevention, waste handling and environmental compliance systems.
For wider regulatory background, see IMO and MARPOL.
Supplier documentation is the practical bridge between the purchased item and the vessel’s IHM database. The most important supplier documents are usually the Material Declaration and the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity.
These are often referred to together as MD and SDoC.
A Material Declaration identifies whether a supplied product contains hazardous materials above the relevant threshold. It usually includes product details, supplier details, material information and declaration status.
A Material Declaration may include:
For buyers, the Material Declaration helps determine whether the item affects the vessel’s IHM records.
The Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity is a supplier statement confirming that the supplied item and the related Material Declaration are accurate according to the supplier’s knowledge and documentation system.
An SDoC may include:
The SDoC supports traceability and accountability.
The Material Declaration explains what is in the product. The Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity confirms the supplier’s responsibility for that declaration.
Together, they help:
Procurement teams should request MD and SDoC where the product category or company procedure requires them.
Depending on product type, the buyer may also request:
These documents do not always replace MD and SDoC, but they can support the compliance file.
IHM compliance should be included in procurement workflow before the order is confirmed. Waiting until the item is delivered creates risk because the supplier may not be able to provide missing declarations quickly.
A practical workflow helps buyers, suppliers and technical teams avoid delays.
The buyer should first identify whether the item may require IHM documentation.
High-attention categories include:
These categories should be flagged during RFQ preparation.
The RFQ should not only ask for price and delivery time. It should also ask whether IHM documents are required and available.
A strong RFQ may include:
This makes the supplier’s responsibility clear before quotation.
Once documents are received, procurement and HSEQ teams should check:
If documents are incomplete, the buyer should ask for correction before delivery where possible.
Substitutions are common in ship supply, especially under urgent delivery pressure. However, substitution can create IHM problems.
If the supplier proposes an alternative product, the buyer should request updated documentation.
Substitution review should include:
A technically acceptable substitute may still be unacceptable if documentation is missing.
IHM-related documents should be stored in a structured way so that the vessel, technical team, HSEQ team and class or RO can access them when needed.
A practical folder structure may include:
Good document control makes future IHM maintenance easier.
Class societies and Recognized Organizations play an important role in IHM verification and certification, depending on flag, regulatory framework and vessel scope. They may review the IHM, verify documentation and issue or support the required certificate or statement.
For procurement teams, the key point is that class or RO review depends on reliable supplier documentation.
A class society or Recognized Organization may review:
If supplier documents are missing or weak, IHM verification becomes more difficult.
The ship owner or ship manager is normally responsible for maintaining the vessel’s IHM. However, suppliers support that responsibility by providing accurate documents for the products they deliver.
A practical division is:
This process depends on cooperation across the supply chain.
Suppliers may be audited or reviewed for IHM-related processes, especially when they provide technical items, chemical products or repeated fleet supplies.
A buyer may ask suppliers about:
For procurement and sustainability teams, supplier auditability is part of responsible sourcing.
Marine procurement teams may also use industry bodies and purchasing references to standardize communication and supplier expectations. IMPA and ISSA can support common understanding in marine purchasing and ship supply processes.
IHM is not a one-time document prepared only when a ship is new or ready for recycling. It must be maintained through the vessel’s life as equipment is replaced, repaired, upgraded or removed.
This is where procurement discipline becomes important.
IHM may need to be updated when:
The IHM database should reflect changes that affect hazardous material inventory.
The ship owner or ship manager usually assigns responsibility for maintaining IHM records. This may involve the technical department, HSEQ team, superintendent, vessel crew, IHM expert or external service provider.
Procurement supports the process by ensuring that documents are collected at the purchasing stage.
Poor IHM maintenance can create problems during:
Keeping the IHM updated reduces future correction work and supports regulatory readiness.
IHM is also connected with ESG because it supports transparency, hazardous material control, environmental protection, worker safety and responsible ship recycling.
For sustainability officers, IHM documentation can support:
For broader sustainability context, see ESG in maritime procurement.
AVS supports procurement teams, sustainability officers and HSEQ managers by helping clarify document needs before supply and coordinating required supplier documentation where applicable.
AVS can support:
AVS helps buyers reduce documentation gaps by aligning product sourcing, technical review and compliance requirements before delivery.
IHM compliance is not only a recycling-yard issue. It begins much earlier, during procurement, supplier selection, product approval and document collection.
For ship suppliers, the practical responsibility is to provide accurate product information and documentation when the supplied item may affect the vessel’s Inventory of Hazardous Materials. For buyers, the responsibility is to identify IHM-relevant categories, request the right documents and store them properly.
The best approach is simple: ask for IHM documents before confirming the order, control substitutions carefully and keep records linked to the vessel and purchase order.
AVS Global Ship Supply & Catering supports ship owners, ship managers, procurement teams, sustainability officers and HSEQ managers with technical stores, marine chemicals, spare parts, documentation coordination and global ship supply across international ports.
For IHM-related supply requests, technical stores, marine chemicals, spare parts or documentation-sensitive vessel supply, submit your requirement through Quick Quote.
IHM means Inventory of Hazardous Materials. It is a ship-specific inventory that identifies hazardous materials present in the ship’s structure, equipment and relevant materials depending on the IHM scope.
IHM requirements depend on vessel type, flag, size, trading area and applicable regulation. EU SRR and the Hong Kong Convention create IHM obligations for ships within their scope.
The Hong Kong Convention is an IMO convention for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling. It entered into force on 26 June 2025 and includes requirements related to hazardous materials and ship recycling preparation.
Depending on the product, suppliers may need to provide a Material Declaration, Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity, Safety Data Sheet, technical document, certificate, non-asbestos declaration or other supporting documentation.
MD means Material Declaration. SoC or SDoC means Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity. Together, they document whether hazardous materials are present and confirm supplier responsibility for the declaration.
AVS supports IHM-related procurement by coordinating product information, supplier documents, Material Declarations, Supplier’s Declarations of Conformity, Safety Data Sheets and delivery documentation where applicable.
No. IHM is used for safe recycling, but it must be maintained during the vessel’s operational life. Procurement, repair, replacement and product substitution can all affect IHM records.
Most standard provisions are not the main focus of IHM. However, packaging, chemical products, galley equipment, appliances or special materials supplied with provisions may still require review depending on company procedure and product type.
IHM should be updated whenever relevant equipment, materials or components are installed, replaced, removed or modified in a way that affects hazardous material records.
The ship owner or ship manager is usually responsible for maintaining the IHM database. The task may involve technical teams, HSEQ teams, superintendents, vessel crew, IHM service providers and suppliers.
Yes. Suppliers may be reviewed or audited for document control, hazardous material declarations, substitution control, traceability, SDS availability and response to IHM documentation requests.
Common IHM-relevant materials may include asbestos, PCBs, ozone-depleting substances, certain anti-fouling system materials, heavy metals, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium compounds and certain hazardous chemicals.
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