Estonia accedes to the 2010 HNS Protocol

Posted: 17/03/2022

The Republic of Estonia has become the sixth State to accede to the 2010 HNS Protocol, bringing this important treaty one step closer to entering into force. An instrument of accession was deposited with the Secretary-General of IMO on 10 January 2022.

Estonia joins Canada, Denmark, Norway, South Africa and Turkey, which have already deposited instruments of ratification to the Protocol.

The Estonian Ministry of Environment submitted their 2020 receipts for contributing cargo in accordance with Article 28(2)(a)(i) of the 2010 HNS Protocol. Among the conditions for the entry into force of the 2010 HNS Convention is the requirement for the total volume of contributing cargo to the general account to be at least 40 million tonnes. The HNS contributing cargo received by Estonia in 2020 regarding the HNS general account (bulk and solid) is just under 70 000 tonnes.

Details of the total quantities of contributing cargo liable for contributions and received during 2019, in respect of the general account and each separate account, are specified in IMO circular HNS.2/Circ.7. The total quantities reported for 2020 will be available in due course.

Other criteria for the entry into force of the 2010 HNS Convention require at least 12 States to ratify or accede to the Protocol, four of which must each have a merchant shipping fleet of no less than 2 million units of gross tonnage. That unit of tonnage has already been achieved with these six Contracting States.

A number of other States have reported significant progress towards ratification in recent months, and the IOPC Funds are therefore very hopeful that further instruments will be deposited in the near future.

The IOPC Funds have been given the role of carrying out the tasks necessary to set up the HNS Fund and of making preparations for the first session of the HNS Fund Assembly. The 1992 Fund Secretariat also remains available to work with IMO and support States in their efforts to prepare for ratification or accession to the HNS Convention as well as industry stakeholders on technical issues.