After having been determined that the wreck poses
a hazard, according to article 9 of the Convention,
the registered owner has the obligation to remove it.
The affected State may lay down conditions for such
removal, including setting reasonable deadlines within
which the wreck has to be removed.30 If such deadline
is not met, or if immediate action is required before the
owner can act, the affected State “may remove the
wreck by the most practical and expeditious means
available, consistent with considerations of safety and
protection of the marine environment”.31 It appears
that there may be some scope here for dispute
between the owner and the affected State as to what
constitutes such considerations.