[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