Hazardous substances (HNS)

Insurance for damages during carriage of hazardous and noxious substances by sea

Accidents involving seagoing ships carrying hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) often result in significant damage. For this reason, the international 2010 HNS Convention was adopted and enters into force on 29 November 2027. In Germany it will be implemented by the HNS-Gesetz (HNS Act).

This results in an additional compulsory insurance for shipowners who transport HNS. To comply with this insurance obligation, you must provide prove of insurance or other financial security. The BSH issues a corresponding HNS compulsory insurance certificate confirming that such coverage exists. (HNS-Pflichtversicherungsbescheinigungsverordnung).

We will publish applications for the issuance of an HNS Compulsory Insurance Certificate here shortly.

Since 2025, there has been an additional obligation to report imports of certain substances covered by the Convention (HNS-Mitteilungsverordnung). Further information on this can be found

• on the Website of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) and
•  under https://www.hnsconvention.org/.