HNS explained

RECENT years have seen a number of incidents take place involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS), not to mention countless near- misses. With the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (HNS Convention) due to come into force in the next few years, Mare Forum is holding a one-day workshop to take a closer look at the convention and how it affects the various players involved in the movement of HNS.

Under the proposed convention, compensation will be allowed for actual damage arising from an HNS incident during its carriage by sea as well as response and clean-up costs and any economic losses directly attributable to the incident. The workshop, being held in Barcelona on May 19, 2004, not only clarifies which substances are classified as HNS but also looks at who will be liable to pay levies. In addition it will examine the role of the shipowner, as vessels carrying HNS into or out of ports of signatory states will be required to have insurance to cover their limit of liability and must demonstrate this by a compulsory insurance certificate.

Chaired by John Wren, head of shipping policy at the UK Department of Transport, the event is supported by, among others, Total, the European Shippers’ Council and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF).