[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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