IOPC Funds participates in Coast Guard Global Summit

The IOPC Funds participated in the 4th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS), held in Rome, Italy, from 11 to 12 September 2025. The CGGS, which was hosted by the Italian Coast Guard, was the first to be held outside Japan. It serves as a forum for global discussions and cooperation on a wide range of issues facing coast guards, including challenges in maritime safety, security and environmental protection, as well as human resource development in related fields.

IOPC Funds’ HNS Project Manager, Gillian Grant, provided an overview of the 2010 Convention on the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) by sea, its current status, and the benefits it offers to Member States and the wider maritime sector, particularly in light of recent HNS incidents and the expected increase in global transportation of HNS cargoes as the shipping industry advances towards decarbonisation. Her presentation highlighted the types of damage covered and the funding mechanism for the HNS Fund.

Twelve States must accede to the HNS Protocol for the treaty to enter into force. To date, eight States have ratified the Protocol, with commitments from several others to follow. It is anticipated that the 2010 HNS Convention will enter into force in 2027, approximately 18 months after the criteria have been met.