IMO's Legal Committee set to discuss possible amendments of LLMC96 to increase liability limits unde

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

30 Sep 2009

BIMCO will be present at the upcoming IMO Legal Committee meeting taking place from 5 to 9 October in London where the Committee, amongst other issues, will discuss an Australian proposal to eventually consider amending the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 (LLMC96). The Australian proposal comes in the aftermath of a pollution incident involving the Pacific Adventurer in March 2009, where 270 tons of heavy fuel oil were lost into the sea as a result of damage to the ship’s bunkers. The limits of liability under the Bunkers Convention, which was not in force in Australia at the time of the incident, are calculated by reference to LLMC96.
The Australian proposal does not propose to increased liability limits as such, but suggests adding a new work item on the agenda of the Legal Committee in order to consider whether the current provisions under LLMC96 remain relevant and, if this is not the case, to recommend possible amendments. BIMCO holds observer status with the IMO’s Legal Committee and will be actively involved in the deliberations on this important subject, which could ultimately lead to increased limits of liability under the Bunkers Convention.
Other relevant issues on the agenda of the upcoming Legal Committee meeting concern fair treatment of seafarers, liability and compensation regarding claims for death, personal injury and abandonment of seafarers, as well as piracy.

Source: BIMCO