Jan de Boer of IMO speaks on “how to legally remove a hazardous wreck”

What is the legal basis for removing a hazardous wreck at sea? Who bears the liability? These and many other wreck removal questions were addressed by IMO’s Jan de Boer at the ACI’s 8th Maritime Salvage & Casualty Response conference in London (13-14 September 2017).

Speaking to a wide variety of stakeholders* concerned with wreck removal, Mr. de Boer gave an overview of IMO’s Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, which provides the legal basis for States to remove, or have removed, shipwrecks that may threaten the safety of lives, goods and property at sea, as well as the marine environment.

The treaty entered into force in 2015, the instrument currently has 37 Contracting States, which represent more than 70% of the world’s merchant fleet tonnage.

It applies to shipwrecks, objects from ships at sea, drifting ships and floating offshore installations. In his presentation, Mr. de Boer went into detail on aspects such as the shipowner being strictly liable for costs of locating, marking and removing hazardous wrecks, as well as compulsory insurance to cover shipowner liability.

* Participants from salvage companies, tug & towage companies, authorities, ship owners, ship managers, P&I clubs, maritime lawyers and consultants

Source – IMO (15/09/17) http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/WhatsNew/Pages/default.aspx

ACI’s 9th Maritime Salvage & Casualty Response will take place on 12th & 13th September 2018 in London. For more information or early bird registration please contact Dimitri Pavlyk on +44 (0)203 141 0627 or [email protected]