Tag: Convention Ratification

Spain has become the latest country to accede to IMO’s Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety, significantly boosting the number of vessels needed for entry into force. The entry into force of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement is expected to result in fewer accidents, and a more effective infrastructure for monitoring illegal fishing.

Thailand is set become the first country in Asia to ratify the Work in Fishing Convention C188, which sets basic standards of decent work in the fishing industry. On 29 November, Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly approved proposal to proceed with the ratification of ILO Work in Fishing Convention No. 188, 2007 (C188).

Denmark presented its plan to ratify the 2010 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea. The Convention aims to provide compensation for costs, including clean-up and restoring the environment in case of an incident involving HNS cargoes.

IAPH welcomed the announcement made at the IMO Legal Committee that Canada and Turkey ratified the 2010 IMO Convention on Hazardous and Noxious Substances. IAPH believes that this is a significant development in financial compensation and liability regime for maritime accidents involving hazardous and noxious cargoes.

On 23 April, Canada and Turkey both ratified the 2010 HNS Protocol, joining Norway as the first three States to lead the way towards entry into force of the 2010 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea.

The Government of Myanmar has deposited with the ILO the instrument of ratification of the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 No. 185, as amended, becoming the 35th ILO member State to ratify the Convention. The amended version of the Convention entered into force on 8 June 2017.

Under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, the registered owner of a vessel is required to maintain compulsory insurance cover, and there is also the requirement for ‘direct action’ – which allows a claim for compensation for pollution damage to be brought directly against an insurer.

IMO announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, to support an environmental project in Southeast Asia that aims to help seven countries to protect the marine environment from shipping operations.

The Indian government has drafted legislation to ratify the IMO's Hong Kong Convention on safe ship-recycling, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari was quoted as saying. The Convention will enter into force 24 months after it is ratified by 15 States. At the moment, only six states have acceded.

The International Chamber of Shipping and the Comité Maritime International have released an updated brochure about the importance of governments ratifying international maritime conventions, especially those adopted by the UN IMO.