The HNS Convention

The HNS Convention was adopted by a Diplomatic Conference held in May 1996 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).  The Convention aims to ensure adequate, prompt and effective compensation for damage to persons and property, costs of clean-up and reinstatement measures and economic losses caused by the maritime transport of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS).

At its 12th session in October 2007, the 1992 Fund Assembly decided to establish an HNS Focus Group, with the aim of facilitating the rapid entry into force of the HNS Convention and gave it detailed Terms of Reference . Any representative of a governmental or non-governmental delegation that has the right to participate in the 1992 Fund Assembly who wishes to participate in the HNS Focus Group correspondence group should email hnsfocusgroup@iopcfund.org. All submissions to the HNS Focus Group will be circulated via email and will also be accessible via the following link.

The text of the HNS Convention can be purchased from IMO in English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Russian via their website at www.imo.org or via the following address:

International Maritime Organization
4 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7SR
United Kingdom
e-mail: publications-sales@imo.org
Tel : + 44 (0)20 7735 7611
Fax: + 44 (0)20 7587 3241

The text of the Convention is also available in English via the website of the Correspondence Group established by IMO's Legal Committee at:

http://folk.uio.no/erikro/WWW/HNS.html