Belgium and Fiji ratify BWM Convention

The Belgian move takes the convention to within 0.18% of the tonnage required to trigger entry into force, while Fiji adds no registered tonnage. The BWM Convention will enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30 States, representing 35% of world merchant shipping tonnage.

Belgium also deposited its instrument of accession to the Hong Kong Ship Recycling Convention, bringing the number of contracting states to four. The Hong Kong Convention will enter into force 24 months after the date on which 15 States, representing not less than 40% of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage, become party to the treaty. The combined maximum annual ship recycling volume of those States must, during the preceding 10 years, constitute not less than 3 per cent of their combined merchant shipping tonnage.

Guy Trouveroy, ambassador of Belgium to the UK, handed over the the instruments of accession during a meeting with IMO secretary general Kitack Lim at the ambassador’s residence in London.