For several years, Belgium has been taking steps towards the implementation of the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (2010 HNS Convention).
The purpose of this Convention is to guarantee adequate, prompt and effective compensation for damage to persons and property, covering the cost of clean-up operations, restoration measures as well as economic losses linked to the transport of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) by sea.
The Belgian legal framework is in place and allows Belgium to join this Convention in the near future, in a harmonized approach with our neighbours the Netherlands and Germany.
The operation of the 2010 HNS Convention, and the establishment of an HNS Compensation Fund, presupposes the establishment of an annual reporting system, based on the well-functioning model of the reporting system already active in the framework of the Oil Pollution Conventions2 and the IOPC Funds. Before the entry into force of the Convention, there is no contribution to pay after reporting. With the legal framework adopted in 2022, everything is in place for the first reporting form to be submitted in 2024.
All physical and principal receivers of hazardous and noxious substances via sea transport are invited to complete the corresponding report forms and to send it to the Control of Navigation by March 15, 2024.
In order to give you more background on the reporting requirements, an online session will be organised by DG General Shipping, Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport on February 7th from 10 to 11:30 in English.
The Teams link will be sent to you the day before the meeting.
Register beneath.
For more information on the HNS Convention, you can contact Tanja Merckx, TMerckx@essenscia.be