IMO informed that the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks has been ratified by Croatia, bringing the total number of States to accede to the treaty to 37.
The Convention, which entered into force in 2015, 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.
The treaty was adopted in 2007 and its Contracting States currently represent just over 70% of the world’s merchant fleet tonnage.
Mr. H.E. Mr. Ivan Grdešić, Ambassador of Croatia to the United Kingdom, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim to deposit the instrument of accession, on 11 July.
In May, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea also acceded to the treaty.
The Convention provides a sound legal basis for coastal States to remove, or have removed, from their coastlines, wrecks which pose a hazard to the safety of navigation or to the marine and coastal environments, or both. It aims to make shipowners financially liable and require them to take out insurance or provide other financial security to cover the costs of wreck removal. It also provide States with a right of direct action against insurers.
