TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 2
practical issues raised by States implementing the 2010 HNS Convention,
which are mainly linked to the reporting of contributing cargo that need
to be in place prior to a State being able to ratify or accede to the Conven-
tion. There will also be discussions on HNS incidents and risks.
HNS Convention
IMO measures relating to the prevention of accidents that involve HNS
cargoes are already in force, including ship design, operations and safety
on board as well as safety of loading and unloading operations. There is
also a Protocol covering preparedness and response to shipping accidents
involving hazardous substances.
The 2010 HNS Convention aims to deliver the uniform and compre-
hensive regime needed to provide compensation for costs, including
clean-up and restoring the environment, in the event of an incident
involving HNS cargoes.
The treaty complements existing regimes already in force for the trans-
port of oil as cargo, bunker oil used for the operation and propulsion of
ships, the removal of hazardous wrecks and claims for death of or person-
al injury to passengers, or for damage to their luggage, on ships.
Total compensation available under the HNS Convention is capped at
250 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) of the International Monetary
Fund (approximately USD $360 million at current exchange rates) per
event. Shipowners are held strictly liable up to a maximum limit of liability
established by the Convention for the cost of an HNS incident. Registered
owners of ships carrying HNS cargoes have to maintain insurance that is
State certified. The HNS Fund pays compensation once shipowner's liabil-
ity is exhausted and is financed through contributions paid post incident
by receivers of HNS cargoes.
The HNS Fund is administered by States and contributions will be
based on the actual need for compensation.
HNS covered by the Convention include: oils; other liquid substances
defined as noxious or dangerous; liquefied gases; liquid substances with a
flashpoint not exceeding 60˚C; dangerous, hazardous and harmful mate-
rials and substances carried in packaged form or in containers; and solid
bulk materials defined as possessing chemical hazards. Click to download
the HNS 2010 brochure.
IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations
specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of ship-
ping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
imo.org
HNS ratifications: (above) Ms. Sarah Fountain
Smith, Deputy High Commissioner, High
commission of Canada in the United Kingdom,
deposited Canada’s instrument of ratification
with IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. (below)
His Excellency. Mr. Abdurrahman Bilgiç,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,
Permanent Representative of the Republic of
Turkey to IMO, handed over Turkey’s instrument
of ratification.
Credit: flickr.com/photos/imo-un/collections
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