IOPC Funds at 7th Oil Spill India Conference

The IOPC Funds participated in the 7th edition of Oil Spill India, an international conference and exhibition focused on oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response in New Delhi, India, from 11 to 12 September 2024.

IOPC Funds’ Director, Mr Gaute Sivertsen, delivered a keynote address during the inaugural session and participated as a panellist in the opening discussion entitled “Horizon Unveiled: Navigating the Outlook & Developments in Global, Regional & National Oil Spill Preparedness and Response”. He also joined another session on the topic “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Transboundary Alliances for Unified Oil Spill Response and Protection”.

In his address, Director Sivertsen recognised India as a major oil receiver and contributor, emphasising the strong cooperation between the IOPC Funds and the 1992 Fund Member State. He highlighted the growing trend of oil being transported on uninsured and/or unsafe tankers, noting that this increases the risk of incidents involving uninsured vessels, which in turn raises the financial risk of the IOPC Funds. The Director also stressed the importance of the proper implementation of the 1992 Civil Liability and Fund Conventions as a crucial part of Member States’ preparedness.

On the second day of the conference, IOPC Funds’ Information Officer, Raymond Bayor, participated in a technical session on “Navigating Waters of Responsibility: Exploring Conventions, Claims, and Compensation in Oil Spill Management — A Confluence of Regulatory and Industry Perspectives”. He delivered a presentation on the international liability and compensation regime for ship-source oil pollution and the role of the IOPC Funds.

The IOPC Funds were pleased to serve as a strategic partner for this year’s event, which was supported by the oil industry and India’s Ministry of Shipping. The conference provided an opportunity for the IOPC Funds to raise awareness among stakeholders about the organisation’s work and the compensation regime it administers. The IOPC Funds also hosted a stand at the exhibition, shared with the International Group of P&I Associations, to engage directly with stakeholders and other conference participants.

During his time in Delhi, the Director took the opportunity to meet with Mr. Mandeep Singh Randhawa, Director of Shipping at India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, as well as with Captain Anish Joseph, a member of the IOPC Funds’ Audit Body. He also visited the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), a regional maritime security and safety centre hosted by the Indian Navy.