Webinar on ship-sourced marine pollution for the Philippines

On 24 April 2023, the IOPC Funds participated in a webinar on ‘Ship-Sourced Marine Pollution: Policies and Challenges’ co-organised by EcoWaste Coalition, Greenpeace Philippines, Oceana Philippines and the International Pollutants Elimination Network-Southeast and East Asia.

The webinar focused on discussing the existing policies, both global and national, that relate to preventing and mitigating ship-sourced marine pollution.  IOPC Funds Claims Manager, Mark Homan, delivered a presentation on the IMO Conventions which cover liability and compensation.  He focused on the existing international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage and the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, (the HNS Convention), which is not yet in force.

The webinar helped to highlight the levels of protection that the Philippines already has in place as Party to a number of Conventions, but also the gaps in cover and the Conventions that the State has not yet acceded to.

The event was attended by various stakeholders such as environmental health advocates, government representatives, academia, students, media and other non-governmental organisations.

The webinar was an excellent opportunity to clarify the benefits of becoming Party to all international instruments relating to liability and compensation, share perspectives and discuss any questions or concerns relating to the subject.