S.Korea's HMM establishes system for recycling waste ropes

South Korea's HMM Co. announced on Tuesday that it had signed a business agreement with Foresys, a company specializing in marine waste management. The agreement aims to establish a circular economy using waste ropes from ships in the "waste rope resource recirculation project."

When ships are anchored in a port, shipping companies use around 20 thick ropes, known as mooring lines. HMM generates about 20 tons of waste mooring lines annually, which have typically been landfilled or incinerated as waste.

HMM and Foresys have collaborated to establish a system that reuses the material as recycled nylon. Eco-friendly technology removes and processes salt and foreign substances from the surface of the waste mooring line. According to HMM, about 80 to 90% of the ropes' weight can be recycled.

Nylon raw materials in the form of pellets or yarns can be repurposed to create clothing, household goods and miscellaneous items.

HMM stated that this is the first instance among Korean shippers to recycle waste mooring lines, and it is challenging to find similar cases among international shipping companies.

"As eco-friendliness and carbon neutrality continue to become critical issues in the shipping industry, we plan to expand socially responsible activities related to marine environmental protection and ships," said an HMM official.

Write to Seo-Woo Jang at suwu@hankyung.com