IOPC Funds and Steamship Mutual open joint Claims Submission Office for Terranova incident

Posted: 22/10/2024
Categories: News – Incidents

The IOPC Funds and the insurer of the Terranova, Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Ltd. (Steamship Mutual), have opened a Claims Submission Office (CSO) to facilitate the submission of claims for compensation by those affected by the oil pollution damage caused by the incident, which occurred off the coast of Manila, Philippines, on 25 July 2024.

The Philippines is a 1992 Fund Member State, and it has been confirmed that the oil from the vessel is persistent and that the MT Terranova qualifies as a ‘ship’ under the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (1992 CC). As a result, both the 1992 CLC and the 1992 Fund Convention apply to this incident. Based on the latest available information, there is a possibility that compensation claims may exceed the shipowner’s limit of liability under the 1992 CLC, which means the 1992 Fund may be called upon to pay compensation. However, as the insurer is a member of the International Group of P&I Associations, the Small Tanker Oil Pollution Indemnification Agreement (STOPIA) 2006, would apply to this incident. Under STOPIA, the insurer will indemnify the 1992 Fund for any compensation paid above the shipowner’s limit, up to a maximum of SDR 20 million.

Following the incident, clean-up and response operations commenced and are currently at an advanced stage, with fuel removal operations on the vessel being completed. The cargo tanks of the Terranova have been emptied and 97% of the cargo has been removed or recovered during at-sea response activities.

The IOPC Funds and Steamship Mutual have been working in close cooperation since the incident occurred and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ensuring the effective handling of the incident. A team of local experts and representatives has been appointed to manage the CSO, which is now open to assist claimants.

Further details about the CSO are available via a dedicated ‘Information for claimants’ page on the IOPC Funds website, which also includes claim forms and general information about the incident and the claims process. Additional information regarding the incident, including ongoing response operations, is available here: www.terranovainformationcentre.com/

Any claims-related correspondence or questions should be addressed to the CSO below:

Terranova CSO
Unit 2, Ground Floor

Lou-is Building, Capitol Drive

San Jose, Balanga City, 5100 Bataan

Philippines

Email: claims.terranova@iopcfundsclaims.org

Further information about the IOPC Funds can be found here: www.iopcfunds.org

Further information about Steamship Mutual can be found here: www.SteamshipMutual.com

The IOPC Funds will continue to liaise with key stakeholders and monitor developments closely. The organisation will also communicate any further developments and submit a detailed report to the upcoming session of the 1992 Fund Executive Committee in November this year.

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