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Terms of Reference

Posted: 23/05/2014

By: Thomas Liebert

FM_smallDear Members of the Correspondence Group:

I am pleased to send you this first email message as Coordinator of the HNS Correspondence Group formed at the 101st session of the IMO Legal Committee during the week of April 28-May 2.

HNS Correspondence Group Terms of Reference:
The Correspondence Group was approved with the following Terms of Reference:

  1.  to provide a forum for an exchange of views concerning HNS implementation issues and to monitor and inform the implementation process in States;
  2.  to provide, with a view to encouraging early entry into force of the 2010 HNS Convention at a global level, and for the benefit of both potential States Parties and affected industries seeking a coordinated approach to ratification, accession or acceptance, guidance and assistance on issues regarding the implementation and operation of the Convention such as, but not limited, to:
  • the collection of information on contributing cargo, the development of appropriate reporting and verification systems, and the contribution system in accordance with the Guidelines on reporting of HNS contributing cargo;
  • the acceptability of insurance or other financial security for the purpose of article 12 of the 2010 HNS Convention;
  • assisting the IOPC Fund 1992 with the development of the various documents and decisions required for the first sessions of the HNS Assembly, in accordance with resolution 1 on setting up the HNS Fund agreed to at the international conference which adopted the 2010 HNS Protocol; and

3.   to report to the Legal Committee at its next session.

The Correspondence Group is to work over the next year on these issues and report back to the 102nd session of the Legal Committee on its progress. The main tasks over the next year are to continue to facilitate the entry into force of the 2010 HNS Convention through information exchanges and the sharing of best practices, provide any assistance to states in their national implementation of the Convention and to promote the ratification of the Convention. As with all Correspondence Groups, its results will depend on the contribution of its members and I invite you to use this opportunity to exchange views.

Correspondence Group Communication

The principle means of communication for the Correspondence Group are by email and through the HNS Protocol Blog. Here’s a contact list of members of the Correspondence Group. Furthermore, this Blog, which is maintained by the IOPC Funds Secretariat, is also an effective means to see all communications, respond or comment on postings and view documents or web links. To be added as a contributor to the Blog, please contact Ms. Katrin Park at the IOPC Funds at: [email protected]
The HNS Protocol Blog can be accessed at the following web link: http://hnsprotocol.wordpress.com/

Informal Meeting

An informal meeting was also held on April 30 at the IMO headquarters in London and was attended by many states and observer delegations. Here is the report of that meeting. A number of possible issues and actions for the Correspondence Group were discussed at this meeting and I invite you to read the report and provide any input as you deem is needed.

Requested Actions

I would request that each member of the Correspondence Group please consider the following actions:

  1.  Review the attached Contact List and provide any corrections, additions or deletions directly to myself (do not reply to all).
  2. Review the attached report from the informal meeting on April 30 for your information and consider any contributions to the issues identified in the report.
  3. Should you wish to be added as a contributor to the HNS Protocol Blog, contact Ms. Park at the IOPC Funds Secretariat.

I look forward to exchanging information with you over the year to come.

Regards,

François Marier
+613-993-4895
[email protected]