External Relations

The Secretariat undertakes a wide variety of activities aimed at strengthening the IOPC Funds’ relationship with Member States, encouraging the worldwide adoption and understanding of the international regime for oil pollution compensation and assisting potential claimants. The Secretariat regularly organises and participates in events such as national and regional workshops, gives presentations at conferences and hosts informal regional lunch meetings for London-based representatives of Member and non-Member States. The Secretariat also dedicates significant efforts into enhancing awareness and understanding of the IOPC Funds through the publication of numerous brochures and documentation and increased investment into the organisations’ online information services. The Secretariat also regularly gives lectures to students of maritime law from various universities and runs an annual Short Course which is a week-long programme for self-funded participants nominated by 1992 Fund Member States, covering all aspects of the work of the IOPC Funds and the international compensation regime.

Details of the key events attended by the Secretariat are set out on the map below and under the News and Events section. Future activities are detailed under the Upcoming Events page. For all enquiries relating to outreach activities, please contact the External Relations and Conference Department at externalrelations@iopcfunds.org.

IOPC Funds Short Course

The IOPC Funds organises an annual Short Course which usually takes place at the Funds headquarters in London.  The week-long programme covers all aspects of the work of the IOPC Funds and the international liability and compensation regime.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Short Course was cancelled in 2020 and was delivered as an online course in 2021. Following the UK Government’s lifting of all COVID-19 restrictions in February 2022, the IOPC Funds Short Course took place in person from Monday, 27 June to Friday, 1 July at the Funds’ headquarters in London. The dates for the 2023 IOPC Funds Short Course and the deadline for nomination by governments will be announced in due course.