IOPC Funds participates in ADRIASPILLCON 2026

The IOPC Funds participated in the sixth edition of ADRIASPILLCON, an international conference and exhibition focused on oil spill prevention, preparedness and response. The event took place from 21 to 23 April 2026 in Zadar, Croatia, and was organised by the Adriatic Training and Research Centre (ATRAC) under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia. The three-day conference was also supported by the IOPC Funds, alongside other key international, regional and national organisations active in the sector.

IOPC Funds’ Claims Manager, Mark Homan, joined expert panel discussions on oil spill preparedness and response at sea and inland, as well as on incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) and marine debris.

He provided an overview of the IOPC Funds’ role and the legal framework underpinning the international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage, before turning to the Gulfstream incident and other recent cases.

He highlighted the complexities of the Gulfstream incident, which involved a barge that appeared to be uninsured, was in poor condition, and whose registered owner had not yet been identified. In this context, he underscored the importance of compliance with maritime safety standards, noting that this is critical to ensuring the effective functioning of the international compensation regime. His presentation also covered the 2010 HNS Convention, its current status, importance, and the benefits it offers to Member States.

As in previous years, ADRIASPILLCON 2026 was complemented by an exhibition of spill response equipment and products, and presentations of services offered by several organisations and companies engaged in the field of oil and HNS spill preparedness and response.