HNS Convention enters journey to come into force

Following the HNS Convention receiving 12 ratifications from member states and starting its journey to come into force, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC Funds) held a meeting to map the next key stages in the process.
 
As part of this journey, ITOPF announced Dr. Annabelle Nicolas-Kopec, Senior Technical Adviser for ITOPF, will be working with HNS Fund to provide her expertise to the secretariat on a 6-month secondment.
 
Annabelle is a chartered chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and brings expertise from her time with GESAMP’s working group covering Evaluation of the Hazards of Harmful Substances (EHS) carried by ships.
 
She has also contributed extensively to Marine HNS Response Manual, developed by CEDRE, ISPRA and ITOPF. The manual provides state of the art information on HNS pollution preparedness and response, offering operational guidance for responders, decision-makers, and addresses relevant offshore and onshore spill response techniques.

Oli Beavon, Managing Director said, “ITOPF is delighted to be able to provide relevant technical expertise to the HNS Fund at this critical time. Annabelle’s expertise and her wealth of experience in providing effective spill response advice to pollution incidents on-site is invaluable to the HNS Fund and will support knowledge sharing to benefit the maritime industry.”

Gaute Sivertsen, Director of the IOPC Funds said, “This commitment from ITOPF is a testament to the close co-operation and working relationship between our two organisations”.
 
At the IOPC Funds meeting it was agreed the HNS Funds Headquarters would be co-located with the IOPC Funds Secretariat in London, with Gaute Sivertsen, the Director of the 1992 Fund, holding the post of Director of the HNS Fund and Ms Gillian Grant taking on the role of Head, HNS Department as part of the management team.