India to join global convention on ship-wreck

The government yesterday approved amendments to over 50-year-old merchant shipping Act to bring rules in line with the international convention for removal of wrecks, as India will be acceding to the convention soon. "The Cabinet yesterday approved the proposal to accede to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, and to proceed with the amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, which will become necessary, consequent to the accession of the said Convention," an official spokesperson said.
The Nairobi Convention, adopted by 64 countries including Germany, the US and China, establishes uniform international rules and procedures to ensure the prompt and effective removal of hazardous wrecks from the coastal waters of the respective country.
Aiming at improving navigation safety and maritime security, the Convention also provides a firm jurisdictional basis for dealing with hazardous wrecks.
"These amendments will contain the problems being faced due to increasing number of wrecks, remove discrepancies of existing rules and regulations and bring them in line with developments in international shipping," the Spokesperson added.