Wreck Removal Convention, 2008 Edition

The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 was adopted on 18 May 2007 by the International Conference on the Removal of Wrecks convened by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Headquarters of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), from 14 to 18 May 2007. The Convention provides the legal basis to enable States to remove, or have removed, from their coastlines and waters around their coasts, wrecks posing a hazard to the safety of shipping or to the marine environment. To achieve these objectives, the new treaty includes provisions on the reporting and locating of ships and wrecks and criteria for determining the hazard posed by wrecks, including assessment of damage to the marine environment. It also regulates measures to facilitate the removal of wrecks, as well as the liability of the owner for the costs of locating, marking and removing of ships and wrecks. The registered shipowner is required to maintain compulsory insurance or other financial security to cover liability under the Convention. The Convention will enter into force twelve months following the date on which ten States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the IMO Secretary-General. The Conference also adopted the following resolutions: 1. Resolution on expressions of appreciation; 2. Resolution on compulsory insurance certificates under existing maritime liability conventions, including the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007; and 3. Resolution on promotion of technical co-operation and assistance. This publication reproduces the texts of the Final Act of the International Conference on the Removal of Wrecks, the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 and the three resolutions adopted by the Conference.