DRAFT PROTOCOL TO AMEND THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CARRIAGE OF HAZARDOUS AND NOXIOUS SUBSTANCES BY SEA (HNS CONVENTION) 1996

Abstract

Međunarodna konvencija o odgovornosti i naknadi štete u vezi prijevoza opasnih i štetnih tvari morem, (HNS konvencija), donesena na Diplomatskoj konferenciji održanoj u Londonu od 15. travnja do 3. svibnja 1996. godine u okviru Međunarodne pomorske organizacije (IMO) s namjerom osiguravanja adekvatne, brze i efikasne naknade šteta do kojih dođe u vezi prijevoza opasnih i štetnih tvari morem, još uvijek nije stupila na snagu. Stoga je u okviru pravnog odbora IMO-a utvrđen Prijedlog Protokola za izmjenu HNS konvencije iz 1996. godine čije se usvajanje očekuje na Diplomatskoj konferenciji zakazanoj za 26. travnja 2010. godine, a sa svrhom omogućavanja stupanja na snagu HNS konvencije. Stupanjem na snagu HNS konvencije završio bi se i unaprijedio sustav međunarodnopravne regulacije odgovornosti za štete zbog onečišćenja mora uljem i drugim štetnim i opasnim tvarima s brodova s obzirom da je pitanje onečišćenja mora uljem koje se prevozi kao teret regulirano već afirmiranim CLC/Fond sustavom odgovornosti kako je izmijenjen 1992. godine i Protokolom o osnivanju dopunskog fonda iz 2003. godine, a pitanje onečišćenja mora pogonskim gorivom na zadovoljavajući način riješeno Međunarodnom konvencijom iz 2001. godine o odgovornosti i naknadi štete zbog onečišćenja mora pogonskim gorivom, koja je stupila na snagu 2008. godine. U radu se analiziraju razlozi zbog kojih HNS konvencija iz 1996. godine još nije stupila na snagu kao i rješenja za otklanjanje zapreka za njezino stupanje na snagu koja nudi Prijedlog Protokola za izmjenu HNS konvencije. S tim u vezi ukazuje se i na prednosti i nedostatke koji mogu biti od utjecaja kod ocjene interesa Republike Hrvatske i donošenja odluke o ratifikaciji HNS konvencije.International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, (HNS Convention) adopted at the IMO Diplomatic Conference held in London from 15 April to 3 May 1996, with an aim to ensure adequate, prompt and effective compensation of damages occurring in connection with the carriage of hazardous and noxious substances by sea, has not yet entered into force. Therefore, the IMO Legal Committee has developed a Draft Protocol to HNS Convention 1996 for adoption at the IMO Diplomatic Conference to be held in London on 26 April 2010, with an aim to enable the HNS Convention to enter into force. The entry into force of the HNS Convention would complete and improve the international regulation on liability for damages resulting from pollution by oil and other hazardous and noxious substances from ships, as the liability and compensation of the damages resulting from oil carried as cargo has already been regulated by the well established CLC/Fund liability regime as amended in 1992 and by Protocol on the Establishment of Additional Fund in 2003, and the liability and compensation of the damages resulting from oil pollution from ship’s bunkers has been adequately regulated by 2001 International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage which entered into force in 2008. This paper analyses the reasons preventing 1996 HNS Convention to enter into force as well as possible solutions to remove obstacles for its entering into force which are offered by proposed Draft Protocol for amendments of the HNS Convention. In this regard, a special emphasis is given to a number of advantages and disadvantages identified which should be taken into account when considering the interests of the Republic of Croatia in the HNS Convention ratification process