Representatives of governments, intergovernmental organizations and the shipping industry have been meeting to share lessons learned and best practices in relation to implementation of a key compensation treaty covering the transport of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) by ship. The international Workshop on the HNS Convention (17-18 March), hosted by Transport Canada in Montréal, Québec, Canada, includes practical sessions on implementation of the International Convention on Liability and compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious substances by Sea, 2010 (2010 HNS Convention), its reporting requirements and discussions on international and regional cooperation aimed at bringing the Convention into force.
IMO’s Jan de Boer is participating in the workshop. Together with the IOPC Funds and ITOPF, IMO has produced a six-page brochure that explains to States the purpose and benefit of the HNS Convention and encourages IMO Member States to take the next steps to ratify or accede to the Convention.