Upcoming events

The IOPC Funds will contribute to the 11th International Conference of Maritime Law, which will be held in Piraeus, Greece, from 2 to 4 October 2025. The event, which is taking place under the theme “Maritime Risks, Revisited”, will explore key legal, regulatory, and practical issues in the maritime sector, including the roles of coastal and flag States, environmental challenges, technological advances, and related international and EU regulations.

The IOPC Funds’ HNS Project Manager, Gillian Grant, will provide an overview of the organisation and the status of the 2010 HNS Convention. Her presentation will consider how recent HNS incidents, particularly the allision of the MV Stena Immaculate and the MV Solong in the North Sea in March 2025, have underlined gaps in the international liability and compensation framework that will be addressed once the 2010 HNS Convention enters into force.

The IOPC Funds will contribute to a workshop on the handling of claims and compensation for oil pollution damage, organised by the Copenhagen Agreement Legal Group.

The event, hosted by Mariehamn’s Department of Infrastructure, will take place in Åland from 7 to 9 October 2025.

The workshop is expected to attract representatives from the Copenhagen Agreement States and will provide training on the handling and administration of compensation claims. In collaboration with the International Group of P&I Associations and ITOPF, the IOPC Funds will deliver presentations and practical exercises to enhance participants’ understanding of the international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage, and to equip them with practical skills for preparing claims and documenting evidence.

The Copenhagen Agreement, signed by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, is an international treaty aimed at strengthening cooperation to prevent and respond to marine pollution.

The IOPC Funds will run an induction course for representatives of 1992 Fund Member States immediately prior to the sessions of the governing bodies, on the afternoon of Monday 3 November 2025.

The 2025 Induction Course will take place in person at the Funds’ headquarters in London and is open to all interested delegates; however, it is designed in particular to benefit those who are either new to the IOPC Funds or have little prior knowledge of the organisations.  The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to the organisation, including a general explanation of the legal framework behind it, its structure and that of its governing bodies. It will also detail what to expect as a delegate to IOPC Funds’ meetings, and the important role of a Member State representative in the various areas of work of the IOPC Funds outside of meetings.

Delegates interested in participating in the Induction Course are kindly requested to register online by Monday, 27 October 2025.

See circular IOPC/2025/Circ.7 for more information.

The next meeting of the IOPC Funds governing bodies will take place from 4 to 7 November 2025.  The invitation and provisional agenda, including a provisional timetable for the sessions, have been issued to all Member States, and States and organisations with observer status.

This will be the first IOPC Funds’ meeting to be held in person, complemented by remote-active participation (in hybrid format).  Delegations are encouraged to continue to attend in person, but it is hoped that the new format will enable additional representatives to join the meeting remotely. To register to participate in the meeting either in person or remotely, click here.