National workshop for India

At the invitation of the Indian Directorate General of Shipping, the IOPC Funds delivered a workshop on the international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage in Kochi, on 18 and 19 January 2024.  The event was attended by some 150 participants from a variety of important stakeholders, including representatives from maritime authorities, the Indian Coast Guard and shipping companies.

The Director, Gaute Sivertsen, and Claims Manager, Mark Homan, were joined by representatives from the International Group of P&I Associations and ITOPF.  Presentations covered general information on the role of each organisation, the types of claims admissible under the compensation regime, the HNS Convention, as well as incident case studies and more specific details about the financing of the system.

During the Director’s visit to India, he and Mr Homan also met with senior personnel at Reliance Shipping Ltd., one of the companies importing oil in India and contributing to the 1992 Fund.

The contributors in India are the largest contributors to the 1992 Fund. India engages regularly with the Secretariat, is a current member of the 1992 Fund Executive Committee, and successfully nominated a candidate, Captain Anish Joseph, to the IOPC Funds’ Audit Body in November 2023.