A meeting of salvage and wreck professionals in
London, United Kingdom has been introduced to IMO’s Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention.
The treaty provides the legal basis for States to remove, or have
removed, shipwrecks that may threaten the safety of lives, goods and property
at sea, as well as the marine environment. IMO’s Jan De Boer outlined the Convention’s
key provisions in a session on “Operating within guidelines, conventions and
authorities’ requirements” at the 19th Salvage & Wreck Removal Conference (7-9
December). These provisions include uniform international
rules for the prompt and effective removal of wrecks located beyond territorial
seas, and optional application of the rules in countries’ territories,
including territorial seas.