IOPC Funds’ Director attends annual ITOPF Board meeting

IOPC Funds’ Director, Mr Gaute Sivertsen, attended the annual ITOPF Board meeting on 19 November 2025 in Singapore. The IOPC Funds has worked closely with ITOPF, which provides technical advice on preparedness and response to accidental marine spills, since the establishment of the original 1971 Fund in 1978. This long-standing partnership has enabled the two organisations to collaborate on numerous incidents over the years, most recently the Gulfstream, Marine Honour and Terranova oil pollution incidents in Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore and the Philippines respectively.

In a brief presentation, the Director provided an update on recent developments in the work of the IOPC Funds, including current incidents and risk areas, and the total contributing oil received for the 1992 Fund and Supplementary Fund for 2024. He highlighted key decisions taken at the recent sessions of the IOPC Funds’ governing bodies, notably the decision to levy 2025 contributions to enable the payment of compensation for ongoing incidents and provided updates on their status.

Mr Sivertsen also outlined a number of challenges currently facing the organisation, referring to the failure of some Member States to comply with their reporting obligations, the effects of sanctions, and the need to ensure treaty-compliant insurance arrangements. He further noted that a growing number of tankers were attempting to circumvent sanctions, which increases the risk to the environment and to Member States.

The Director also provided an update on the current status of the 2010 Convention on the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) by Sea, noting that the Convention is expected to enter into force in 2027.

The IOPC Funds and ITOPF continue to work closely on a range of projects and initiatives that promote the international liability and compensation regime for ship-source oil pollution, with ITOPF also supporting the IOPC Funds’ Annual Academy.

The annual participation of the IOPC Funds Secretariat in ITOPF’s Board meeting provides a valuable opportunity for direct engagement with shipowners who are members of ITOPF, as well as with several P&I Clubs represented on the Board.