ICS & CMI Update Campaign on Maritime Treaty Ratification
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – whose member national shipowner associations represent over 80% of the world merchant fleet, and the Comité Maritime International (CMI) – the international association for maritime lawyers, have released an updated brochure to promote the importance of governments ratifying international maritime conventions, especially those adopted by the UN IMO. The aim of the brochure ‘Promoting Maritime Treaty Ratification’ is to encourage more widespread ratification of some key maritime instruments that would benefit from a greater level of global acceptance. This includes a number of important instruments which have not yet received adequate ratifications from governments to enter into force globally.
Supplementary Fund for Compensation for
Increased levels of compensation will be available for victims of oil pollution from oil tanker accidents, following the ratification by Spain (on Friday 3rd December) of the 2003 Protocol establishing an International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund. Spain's ratification means the instrument has now reached the entry into force criteria (ratification by at least eight States who have received a combined total of 450 million tons of contributing oil) set at its adoption by a diplomatic conference held at IMO Headquarters in London in May 2003. The new Fund will come into existence on 3 March 2005, three months after the date of Spain's ratification.
New Rules for Oil Spill Compensation Enter Force
Increased levels of compensation will be available for victims of oil pollution from oil tanker accidents on 3 March 2005 with the entry into force of the 2003 Protocol establishing an International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund. The Fund will supplement the compensation available under the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (CLC) and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (FUND), with an additional, third tier of compensation. Participation is optional and is open to all States which are parties to the 1992 Fund Convention. The total amount of compensation payable for any one incident will be limited to a combined total of 750 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) (just over US$1…
Chem Spill Clean Up Protocol to Enter Force
The Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances (OPRC-HNS Protocol), 2000, has now achieved enough ratifications for entry into force on 14 June 2007, twelve months after its accession by Portugal, on 14 June 2006, the 15th State to ratify the treaty. The OPRC-HNS Protocol is aimed at providing a global framework for international co-operation in combating major incidents or threats of marine pollution from ships carrying hazardous and noxious substances (HNS), such as chemicals. The OPRC-HNS Protocol follows the principles of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), 1990, which itself entered into force in 1995.
IMO Conference Addresses Oil Pollution Compensation
held at IMO Headquarters from 12-16 May 2003. Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992. for pollution damage caused by oil spills at sea. Protocol. regime, which will remain unaltered. regime. The limits of compensation will be set by the diplomatic conference. existing IOPC Fund system. Protocol. claims made against the supplementary Fund. laid down in the 1992 Fund Convention. Fund Assembly agrees to this arrangement. Damage, (Fund Convention) 1971 replaced the original Conventions. on the shipowner, up to a set limit. contributions by oil receivers. interests. compensation payable to victims of pollution by oil from oil tankers. enter into force on 1 November 2003. gross tonnage, up from 59.7 million SDR in the 1992 Protocol.
