ECSA, ICS and BIMCO urge EU to ratify the 2010 protocol

Aiswarya Lakshmi September 23, 2015

In a joint position paper submitted by ECSA, ICS and BIMCO to EU member States’ maritime attachés, member States have been urged to ratify or accede to the Protocol of 2010 to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (the 2010 Protocol).

In its paper, ECSA, ICS and BIMCO highlight a number of reasons for their call to member States, including that a speedy ratification of the 2010 Protocol will establish an international regime for HNS damage, which will provide victims (claimants) of HNS damages with compensation on a very high level (i.e. 350 million USD / 310 million Euros per incident).

The position paper also highlights that failure of the 2010 Protocol to enter into force is an important gap in the current successful and effective framework of liability and compensation for pollution damages developed by the International Maritime Organization. This is in line with BIMCO’s strong support to international regulation for shipping.

The issue of EU member States’ ratification of or accession to the 2010 Protocol is currently being discussed in the European Council’s Shipping Working Party and ECSA, ICS and BIMCO believe it is important, in this process, to stress their support for the early entry into force of the 2010 Protocol.