HNS Convention

In 1984 IMO convened a conference to consider a new instrument dealing with compensation for accidents involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) but the issue proved to be so complex that the attempt had to be abandoned. Because of the heavy workload of the Legal Committee, it was not until 1996 that the matter could be considered again, but this time the attempt was successful. The International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) by Sea will make it possible for up to 250 million SDR to be paid out to victims of disasters involving HNS (such as chemicals).

A Correspondence Group was established at the 80th session of the Legal Committee to assist the Committee in monitoring the implementation of the HNS Convention. Its website contains all of the Group's correspondence and many useful documents which will help in answering any difficulties regarding implementation of the regime.

The Correspondence Group has also produced an overview to the HNS Convention, agreed by the Legal Committee at its 84th session, which provides straightforward but fundamental information on the key issues that fall within the scope of the Convention.

IMO Council 101st session June 2008

The Council endorsed, in principle, the Legal Committee's recommendation that a diplomatic conference be convened as early as possible in 2010, for the purpose of considering and adopting a protocol to the 1996 HNS Convention (the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea).

The Legal Committee, at its 94th session in October, made significant progress in developing a new draft Protocol which would be designed to address practical problems that have prevented many States from ratifying the Convention which, despite being adopted in 1996, has, to date, only 13 ratifications and has not yet met its entry into force criteria.