Date for entry into force of 2010 HNS Convention confirmed

Posted: 01/06/2026

The Solong and MV Stena Immaculate incident, March 2025. Photo credit: X

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has confirmed that the 2010 HNS Convention will enter into force on 29 November 2027.

This long-anticipated announcement follows the submission by all 12 Contracting States to the Convention of their reports on contributing cargo receipts for 2025, and the fulfilment of the final criteria required to trigger the 18-month period before the entry into force of the 2010 HNS Convention.

At their recent sessions in May 2026, the governing bodies of the IOPC Funds celebrated the ratifications of the Convention in April by Belgium, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Sweden, and noted that a major milestone had been achieved.  In anticipation of the final remaining condition in respect of the submission of the reports being fulfilled by 31 May 2026, the 1992 Fund Administrative Council took a number of decisions to facilitate the preparations for the entry into force of the Convention and the establishment of the HNS Fund.

Notably, following the recommendation of the HNS Convention Contracting States, it decided to approve the co-location of the headquarters of the HNS Fund with the IOPC Funds’ Secretariat in London and decided that the new Fund should have the same Director as the IOPC Funds.

Now that the 18-month period is underway, the IOPC Funds’ Secretariat, in close cooperation with the IMO Secretariat, and under the guidance of the Director, Gaute Sivertsen, and the newly-promoted, Head of the HNS Department, Gillian Grant, will increase its work as part of a structured  plan to ensure all necessary arrangements are in place for the smooth implementation of the Convention and establishment of a robust, secure and fully functioning HNS Fund.