Sub-regional Workshop on Liability and Compensation Regimes for Oil Pollution Damage – Jun 17, 2025

The Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC) in collaboration with the Slovenian Maritime Administration, pursuant to the Programme of Work and Budget for 2024-2025 of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) organised a Sub-regional Workshop on Liability and Compensation Regimes for Oil Pollution Damage in Koper, Slovenia between 17 and 18 June 2025. The Workshop was financed by the IMO Integrated Cooperation Programme (ITCP) and the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF).   

The Workshop was attended by delegations from the competent national authorities involved in marine oil pollution response from the six Adriatic countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia, as well as by observers from Cyprus, Greece, Morocco, and Spain, as members of other sub-regional agreements on contingency planning in the Mediterranean. The Workshop was delivered by experts from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC Fund), ITOPF, the International Group of P&I Clubs and REMPEC. 

The principal objectives of the Workshop were to strengthen the capacities of participants in addressing compensation and financial aspects within the international liability and compensation regimes, established by the Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC 1992), the Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage and the 2003 Supplementary (IOPC Funds), the Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunkers 2001), the Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Wreck 2007) etc. 

It focused on strengthening the knowledge of personnel of the competent national authorities of these countries assigned to tasks concerning financial matters, compiling and ensuring evidence, assessment of damage and preparation of claims at national level and to international offers of assistance. It also addressed related issues, including bunker oil pollution and wreck removal. 

At the end of the Workshop, all the participants were able to conclude with recommendations in the field of preparedness for, and response to, accidental marine pollution and more precisely topics related to compilation of evidence, assessment of damage and cost of mobilisation of equipment and personnel between countries offering assistance and preparation of claims at national level.