EMSA Workshop on claims management

The IOPC Funds were invited by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to participate in a claims management workshop in Lisbon, Portugal, on 24 November 2022, for representatives of Member States of the European Union.

The workshop, which was organised within the framework of the Consultative Technical Group for Marine Pollution Preparedness and Response (CTG MPPR), covered the management of claims applicable to any shipping incident, regardless of the vessel type or the cargo.

Claims Manager, Mark Homan, presented on claims for clean-up costs, preventive measures and environmental damage following pollution of the marine environment by oil or hazardous and noxious substances (HNS).  He advised on best practices for the submission of claims, including the submission of the required evidence and the importance of keeping good records, which facilitates the  evaluation of a claim, both in terms of admissibility and quantum.  Presentations were also delivered by the International Group of P&I Associations and ITOPF.

The workshop continued in the afternoon without the presenters as State representatives discussed past incidents and related claims for compensation.

In general, the workshop was an excellent opportunity for the participating States and presenters to share knowledge and experiences in the field of pollution response and the recovery of costs and to further strengthen co-operation between national claims handlers.