What is the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, and how does India implement it?

flowchart LR
  A["Maritime casualty: wreck reported by master and operator (s.236)"] --> B["Affected State determines the hazard and marks the wreck (s.237)"]
  B --> C["Registered owner locates, marks and removes it (s.238)"]
  C --> D{"Owner fails by the deadline?"}
  D -->|Yes| E["State removes it and recovers the cost; insurance for ships of 300 GT and above pays"]

• Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention 2007 (in force 2015): a hazardous wreck is removed promptly and the cost falls on the shipowner and insurer, not the State.
• Application: wrecks in a Party’s EEZ, with an opt-in for the territorial sea.
• Scheme: master and operator report the wreck; the affected State determines the hazard and marks it; the registered owner locates, marks and removes it, else the State removes and recovers the cost.
• Insurance and liability: ships of 300 GT and above carry insurance and a certificate, direct action against the insurer; strict liability, limited under the LLMC.
• India (MS Act 2025 Part XII): s.233 application, s.234 the Convention, s.235 Receiver of Wreck, s.236 reporting, s.237 hazard and marking, s.238 the duty to mark, locate and remove, s.239 saving life.
• As Chief Engineer: fight for the ship and run SOPEP; as a wreck, support reporting, salvage and removal; distinct from the Salvage Convention 1989 and the CLC or Bunkers regimes.