Recent developments on the HNS website

The website maintained by the 1992 Fund relating to the 2010 HNS Convention (www.hnsconvention.org) has now been made available in French and Spanish. The website provides a wide range of information relating to the Convention itself, access to a database of HNS substances (the HNS Finder) with the aim of assisting users in identifying whether a substance would fall under the Convention, and details of the latest progress towards the entry into force of the Convention.
The most recent development reported in detail on hnsconvention.org relates to the Council of the European Union, which is currently discussing a proposal for a Council Decision to be taken which would instruct EU Member States to take the necessary measures and within a certain time to ratify or accede to the 2010 HNS Protocol. The proposal has been backed by the shipping industry, with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and BIMCO jointly presenting a position paper to the European Union Member States stressing their support for the early entry into force of the 2010 Protocol. For further information, visit www.hnsconvention.org.