The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) has tabled a report recommending the ratification of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Nairobi Convention).
Committee Chair Mr Josh Wilson MP said, “Australia is a country with a significant coastline and shipping industry. Joining the Nairobi Convention would provide economic, environmental, and human safety benefits for Australia. Through this Convention, Australia would be able to remove or have removed wrecks in its Exclusive Economic Zone. This includes objects that are lost at sea that pose a danger to navigation.”
Mr Wilson continued, “Ratifying this treaty is important because of the increasing risk of wreck incidents. This is due to the rise in e-commerce and the use of bigger container ships that travel more frequently at full capacity which face greater pressures to quickly load and unload.”
As part of the Convention, registered ship owners of States Parties are held financially liable for any wrecks they create and those over 300 gross tonnage must have insurance or other financial security to cover the cost of removing the wrecks. As part of its inquiry, the Committee held a public hearing and addressed key issues such as the economic benefits of the Convention, underwater cultural heritage, the application of the Convention to the territorial sea, shifting wrecks, insurance issues and the offshore oil and gas industry.
The Committee supports ratification and recommends that binding treaty action be taken for this treaty as well as the following minor treaty action which is also contained in the Report:
- Amendment to Appendices I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
The report can be found on the Committee website, along with further information on the inquiry.
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