HNS Convention Ratified, Liability and Compensation for Chemical Spills at Sea
Summary
The HNS Convention on liability and compensation for pollution damage from ships carrying dangerous and noxious substances has been ratified by sufficient states (Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Canada, France, Turkey, Norway, Slovakia, Estonia, South Africa) to enter into force in autumn 2027. The convention places objective liability on ship owners for cleanup costs and requires mandatory insurance of 10-100 million SDR (approximately 91-910 million DKK). All ships calling at Danish ports must carry a convention certificate verifying insurance coverage. An HNS Fund provides supplementary compensation up to 250 million SDR (approximately 2.2 billion DKK) for damages exceeding insurance limits, funded by contributions from companies importing HNS goods by sea.
“Konventionen pålægger endvidere skibets ejer at tegne forsikring for dette ansvar op til en vis grænse (mellem 10 og 100 mio. SDR / ca. 91 – 910 mio. DKK).”
Ship owners and operators transporting HNS cargoes should verify their P&I insurance coverage meets the convention's minimum thresholds before autumn 2027. Companies importing HNS goods by sea in member states should prepare for annual contribution obligations to the HNS Fund based on import volumes.
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What changed
The HNS Convention has been ratified by the required number of states and will enter into force in autumn 2027. It establishes a comprehensive international liability and compensation system for pollution damage from ships carrying hazardous and noxious substances. Ship owners face objective liability for cleanup costs and must maintain insurance between 10-100 million SDR. An HNS Fund provides supplementary compensation up to 250 million SDR for damages exceeding insurance coverage.
Shipping companies operating vessels that transport dangerous goods and call at Danish ports will need to ensure they hold the mandatory convention certificate verifying insurance coverage. Companies receiving HNS goods by sea in member states will be required to make annual contributions to the HNS Fund based on imported quantities.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Aftale sikrer klarere ansvar ved kemikalieudslip til søs
15-04-2026 Sker der et spild fra et kemikalietankskib langs de danske kyster, vil der fra efteråret 2027 være et internationalt system på plads til at betale regningen for blandt andet oprydningen.
Et vigtigt hul er ved at blive lukket i de internationale regler om ansvar og erstatning for forurening til søs fra skibe, der transporterer farlige og forurenende stoffer. Holland, Tyskland, Belgien og Sverige ratificerede alle HNS-Konventionen ved en fælles ceremoni under mødet i Den Juridiske Komité i FN's Søfartsorganisation tirsdag den 14. april 2026.
Danmark har tidligere ratificeret HNS-konventionen, og med de nye ratifikationer er HNS-Konventionen nu ratificeret af tilstrækkelig mange stater til at træde i kraft. Ikrafttræden vil efter konventionens regler ske i efteråret 2027.
HNS-konventionen placerer et objektivt ansvar for omkostninger til blandt andet oprydning efter forurening til søs som følge af en hændelse i forbindelse med søtransport af farlige og forurenende stoffer (HNS-stoffer). Konventionen pålægger endvidere skibets ejer at tegne forsikring for dette ansvar op til en vis grænse (mellem 10 og 100 mio. SDR / ca. 91 – 910 mio. DKK). Alle skibe, uanset flag, der lægger til i dansk havn, vil være forpligtet til at have et konventionscertifikat om bord, der bekræfter, at de har denne forsikring. Hvis en skade overstiger forsikringsbeløbet, sikrer konventionen endvidere, at en HNS-fond kan kompensere for det resterende beløb til blandt andet oprydning op til en grænse på 250 mio. SDR (ca. 2,2 mia. DKK). De øvrige medlemsstater er Canada, Frankrig, Tyrkiet, Norge, Slovakiet, Estland og Sydafrika.
Om HNS-Fonden
HNS-fonden finansieres af bidrag fra de selskaber i konventionens medlemsstater, som modtager HNS ad søvejen. Bidragene beregnes på baggrund af de importerede mængder. Alle medlemsstater til konventionen skal derfor årligt indberette oplysninger til HNS-Fonden om, hvilke virksomheder, der har importeret HNS ad søvejen året før og i hvilke mængder.
Kontakt
Søfartsstyrelsen E: sfs@dma.dk T: +45 72 19 60 00
Om HNS-stoffer
HNS-stoffer er en række potentielt farlige og skadelige stoffer. Hændelser til søs i forbindelse med søtransport af farlige og forurenende stoffer kan udløse forurening, der skal ryddes op, og skader, der skal erstattes.
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