Finland joins Int´l HNS Convention

Finland on Tuesday deposited its instrument of accession to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS Convention), said the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The Convention strengthens the right of injured parties to compensation and complements the international maritime liability and compensation regime.

The Convention has been negotiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is partly within the competence of the European Union.

In Finland, Parliament adopted Finland’s accession to the Convention in November 2019, and the President approved the Convention in December 2019.

However, in order to follow an internationally coordinated process of accession, the instrument of accession was not deposited at that time.

This ensured that the liability for possible damages would be distributed equally and that compensation would not be unreasonably high for Finnish companies, for example.

The conditions for the entry into force of the Convention were met on 29 May 2026. Internationally, the Convention will enter into force on 29 November 2027.

Accession to the Convention will also allow Finland to participate in the first General Assembly to be held after its entry into force.