The HNS Convention Finally Has an Entry-Into-Force Date

Seventeen Years From Adoption to Force

The 2010 HNS Convention — covering liability and compensation for damage connected to the carriage of hazardous and noxious substances by sea — will finally enter into force on 29 November 2027. The Convention introduces strict liability for the shipowner, backed by a system of compulsory insurance and insurance certificates, and establishes a two-tier compensation system covering not just pollution damage but fire, explosion, loss of life, personal injury, and property damage.

How the Two Tiers Work

The registered owner is strictly liable and covers loss or damage up to a set limit through compulsory insurance — the first tier. Where victims don't receive full compensation from the shipowner or insurer, a dedicated HNS Fund provides additional compensation as a second tier, funded by companies and entities that receive HNS cargo after sea transport in a Member State.

What This Means for Anyone Carrying HNS Cargo

• Compulsory insurance certificates will become a genuine port entry requirement — confirm your vessel's certification status well ahead of the 2027 date, not close to it
• Strict liability changes the incentive structure around cargo declaration accuracy and emergency response planning — the quality of both now sits closer to direct liability exposure
• The two-tier system exists specifically because a single insurer's coverage limit may not fully compensate a serious incident — understand where your vessel's first-tier coverage ends

Related Reading

• HNS Convention 2027 — the fuller crew guide to what changes operationally