[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 1995)]
[Unknown Section]
[Pages 20791-20792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10340]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2192]
Shipping Coordinating Committee; International Maritime
Organization (IMO) Legal Committee; Meeting
The U.S. Shipping Coordinating Committee (SHC) will conduct an open
meeting at 10 a.m., on Thursday, May 18, 1995, in Room 2415 of U.S.
Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC. The
purpose of this meeting is to report on the 72nd Session of the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Legal Committee held April 3-
7, 1995, and to begin preparations for the 73rd Session to be held
October 9-13, 1995.
To facilitate the attendance of those participants who may be
interested in only certain aspects of the public meeting, the first
subject addressed will be the draft International Convention on
Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage
of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS Convention). The second
major subject, which will be considered at approximately 11:30 a.m.,
will be possible revisions to the 1976 Convention on Limitation of
Liability for Maritime Claims ('76 LLMC).
The current draft of the HNS Convention imposes strict liability
upon the shipowner with an additional international fund (second-tier
fund) modeled after the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
The draft HNS Convention provides compensation for environmental damage
as well as personal injury, death, and property damage from a broad
range of substances. At the 72nd Session, the Legal Committee finalized
decisions on several major issues regarding the draft HNS Convention.
Other issues will remain open for the diplomatic conference, which is
tentatively scheduled for Spring 1996. The 72nd Session was the last
session of the Legal Committee to discuss the HNS Convention before the
diplomatic conference. The views of the public are requested.
The Legal Committee resumed deliberations on the '76 LLMC at the
72nd Session. Discussion centered on a draft protocol which provides
for raising [[Page 20792]] the limits of liability and a streamlined
tacit amendment procedure, and several key decisions were made
regarding limits for passenger claims. The protocol to the '76 LLMC
will also be the subject of the Spring 1996 diplomatic conference, on
an equal priority with the HNS Convention. Therefore, the 72nd session
was also the last session of the Legal Committee to discuss substantive
revisions to the '76 LLMC. Although the United States has not ratified
the '76 LLMC, interests within the United States--such as owners of
foreign flag vessels and passengers on foreign flag vessels--may be
affected by changes to the Convention. The views of the public are
requested.
At the 73rd Session of the Legal Committee, preliminary
negotiations will take place regarding an international convention on
offshore mobile craft and an international convention on wreck removal.
The eighth session of the Joint Intergovernmental Group of Experts on
Maritime Liens and Mortgages will meet October 9-10, the first two days
of the 73rd Session of the Legal Committee, to finalize a draft
international convention on the arrest of ships.
Members of the public are invited to attend the SHC meeting, up to
the seating capacity of the room. For further information or to submit
views concerning the subjects of discussion, contact either Captain
David J. Kantor or Lieutenant Commander Steve D. Poulin, U.S. Coast
Guard (G-LMI), 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593, telephone
(202) 267-1527, telefax (202) 267-4496.
Dated: April 19, 1995.
Charles A. Mast,
Chairman, Shipping Coordinating Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-10340 Filed 4-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-M
