IOPC Funds hosts Annual Academy 2024

The IOPC Funds’ Annual Academy took place from Monday, 17 to Friday, 21 June at the Funds’ headquarters in London.

This year’s Academy was attended by participants from 17 Member States of the 1992 Fund, representing maritime administrations, environment or transport Departments and others. Notably, five of these Member States  participated in the Academy  for the first time.

Participants were provided with interactive and comprehensive training which covered all aspects of the work of the IOPC Funds and the international liability and compensation regime for ship-sourced oil pollution. The programme included presentations from various speakers from the Secretariat as well as from other organisations who kindly support the event and with whom the IOPC Funds work closely, namely the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Group of P&I Associations, INTERTANKO, ITOPF and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

The participants spent time at the IOPC Funds’ offices and had a tour of the IMO building.  They visited the International Group, the Britannia P&I Club and the Lloyd’s of London building, which included a guided tour organised courtesy of the International Group.

Towards the latter part of the week, they undertook practical exercises which allowed them to study a theoretical incident and the subsequent claims submission process.

Regular training and engagement with Member States is a priority for the IOPC Funds as it facilitates understanding of the role of both the Secretariat and the Member State in relation to the general functioning of the organisation during the course of the year but also, importantly, in the event of an incident.  The Annual Academy provides an excellent opportunity for the Secretariat to deliver such training and to connect with delegates to the IOPC Funds’ meetings and government officials who have a responsibility in the areas of oil reporting and oil spill preparedness and response.

The dates for the 2025 Academy and the deadline for nomination by governments will be announced early next year.