HNS convention

During the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Legal Committee’s meeting in October 2008, a review of the convention regarding the maritime transport of hazardous substances (Hazardous and Noxious Substances or HNS convention) was discussed. Even though the convention has not yet become effective the various governments would like to amend certain of the convention’s aspects. A number of governments would like to see the limits of shipowners’ liability increased. While the data supplied by P&I Clubs provides scant factual foundation for this desire, it was agree in the International Chamber of Shipping to support a modest increase, in order to compensate the continuation of the so-called ‘shared liability’ principle in which shippers and shipowners share liability. The diplomatic conference on this new Protocol of the HNS convention is to take place in the spring of 2010.