IOPC Funds publishes Guide to Persistent and Contributing Oils

The IOPC Funds Secretariat has published a new “Guide to Persistent and Contributing Oils”. The text for the Guide, now available for download via the Publications section of the Funds’ website, was endorsed by the organisation’s governing bodies during their April 2024 meeting.

The Guide is intended to clarify the differences between contributing, persistent oil, and non-persistent oil, particularly as “persistent oil” is not defined in the governing Conventions. By identifying oils covered by the Conventions, the Guide aims to help Member States and oil receivers clearly understand which oils should be included in their annual reporting of contributing oil.

Under the 2010 HNS Convention, State Parties are required to report contributing oil, as defined in Article 1.3 of the 1992 Fund Convention, as well as other oils carried in bulk and listed in Annex I of the MARPOL Convention. The Guide will therefore be helpful in the context of the 2010 HNS Convention and will also be made available for that purpose.