Current legal developments at IMO

The Legal Committee held its ninety-eighth session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters from 4 to 8 April 2011. The agenda included guidelines on implementation of the HNS Protocol, 2010, the provision of financial security in cases of abandonment, personal injury to, or death of seafarers, amending the limits of liability of the Protocol of 1996 to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 (LLMC 96) and piracy.

Implementation of the HNS protocol, 2010

The IMO Secretariat introduced documents LEG 98/4/1 and LEG 98/4/1/, containing a revision of the Overview of the 1996 HNS Convention, as amended by the 2010 HNS Protocol. The documents had been prepared in consultation with the IOPC Funds Secretariat. The revision, which had been called for in resolution 4 of the 2010 HNS International Conference, offers a practical guide for states in implementing the 2010 HNS Convention. It explains and assists with compliance with complex provisions, such as reporting of contributing cargoes, liability, insurance, limits of compensation and contributions to the Fund accounts.