IMO treaty on Hazardous and Noxious Cargo to Enter into Force in 2027 Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. June 1, 2026 Source: IMO The International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (2010 HNS Convention) is set to enter into force on 29 November 2027, marking a milestone for shipping’s global liability and compensation regime as increasing volumes of chemicals and alternative fuels are transported by sea. The conditions for the treaty’s entry into force were met on 29 May 2026, paving the way for the 2010 HNS Convention (the 1996 Convention as amended by the 2010 Protocol) to enter into force 18 months later. “The fulfilment of the conditions for the entry into force of the HNS Protocol is a long-awaited milestone that closes an important gap in the international liability and compensation regime for shipping,” said IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. “This treaty will ensure that those affected by hazardous cargo incidents involving ships can access fair and timely compensation, while providing legal certainty for industry and governments.” Under article 21(1), the 2010 HNS Protocol will enter into force 18 months after the following requirements have been satisfied: • at least 12 States to express their consent to be bound, including four States each with not less than 2 million units of gross tonnage; and • the receipt, by the IMO Secretary-General, of information confirming that contributing cargo in those States amounted to at least 40 million tonnes in the preceding calendar year. There are currently 12 contracting States to the 2010 HNS Protocol, following ratifications by Belgium, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Sweden in April 2026. Nine of these States have more than 2 million units of gross tonnage. Reports on contributing cargo submitted by contracting States in accordance with article 20 of the Protocol confirm that the required aggregate quantity