Visit from the delegation of India

The Director, Mr Gaute Sivertsen, and Deputy Director, Ms Liliana Monsalve, were honoured to have the opportunity to meet with the Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Mr T. K. Ramachandran, and the Director General of Shipping, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, on 20 July 2023.

Mr Sivertsen and Ms Monsalve welcomed a full delegation of senior officials to the Funds’ offices where they held fruitful discussions relating to the role of the organisation in general, the challenges it currently faces and the important role of States in both the work of the IOPC Funds and the success of the wider international liability and compensation regime.

India is the largest contributor to the 1992 Fund, importing some 16% of the total oil receipts reported annually by Member States.  Strong cooperation between the Secretariat and key figures in the Indian Maritime Administrations, is therefore extremely important. Opportunities such as this meeting, the State’s representation at sessions of the IOPC Funds governing bodies and the Funds’ participation at Oil Spill India, all contribute to strengthening the relationship between the organisation and India.

The Director is thankful to all members of the delegation for meeting with him, for their interest and ongoing support to the Secretariat and to India, as a 1992 Fund Member State, for its ongoing commitment to the IOPC Funds.