The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has published the Annex to MGN 656, the document that sets out the United Kingdom's approved ship recycling facilities. The item appears on the government publication list dated 9 September 2026 and functions as the formal Annex to MGN 656.
The Annex provides a single, official reference for which ship recycling facilities are recognised under the terms of MGN 656. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's publication supplies the list in the format intended to be used by industry and authorities seeking clarity on approval status.
Regulatory context
The Annex sits alongside MGN 656 and is designed to be read as part of that guidance, indicating the facilities approved for the purposes the guidance covers. The publication of an Annex of this kind accompanies the administrative framework by which the MCA identifies those facilities that meet the standards the guidance requires.
Industry implications
Shipowners, managers and their advisers will commonly consult the Annex when planning end-of-life options for vessels, as it provides the named facilities recognised under the guidance. Regulators, insurers and port authorities are also likely to refer to the Annex where approval status is relevant to compliance, paperwork or contractual arrangements.
Updating and maintaining a clear, published list reduces uncertainty for operators who must align their contracting and operational decisions with the United Kingdom's guidance regime. While the Annex itself records which facilities are approved at the time of publication, the presence of a formal list simplifies administrative checks and supports transparency between commercial parties and the regulator.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's decision to publish the Annex on 9 September 2026 restates the role of MGN 656 as the mechanism through which approved facilities are identified for the United Kingdom. The publication allows interested parties to consult a single authoritative document, and it makes the list accessible in the form set out by the MCA, in accordance with its regulatory communications.