The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has recently commenced a public consultation process with interested industry parties on how best to implement an international treaty for paying increased compensation to victims of incidents involving the carriage of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) by sea. The treaty - the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 (the HNS Convention) - was developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to significantly improve liability and compensation arrangements arising from the carriage of hazardous and polluting cargoes by sea. The consultation document published by the Department in December 2003 explains the provisions of the HNS Convention and sets out the key general principles that the UK would be required to meet once the Convention enters into force. This consultation is the first of a two-stage process, with a second stage to be undertaken in late March/early April 2004 on the specifics of reporting types and quantities of UK imports of hazardous and noxious substances following carriage by sea.
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