Ratification by Bangladesh and Liberia means international ship recycling convention will enter into force in 2025.The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) was adopted on 15 May 2009. However, numerous conditions for entering into force, namely (i) ratification by 15 States, (ii) representing 40% of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage, and (iii) with combined maximum annual ship recycling volume not less than 3% of their combined tonnage, meant that some time was needed before all could be met.Fourteen years later, the above requirements have now been fulfilled as Bangladesh and Liberia ratified the Convention, triggering the entry into force.Whilst it will not be another 24 months before the Convention comes into force, namely on 26 June 2025, the recent ratifications are a very welcome development, not least because this means that there will eventually be a uniform regime globally on ship recycling. This is also important in view of the number of ships that are expected to be recycled in the next decade.Shipowners are encouraged to choose safe and environmentally sound yards for recycling when ships reach the end of their life cycle and until the Convention comes into force.