Adriatic countries are bolstering their defences against marine pollution by harmonizing efforts across the region to prevent, prepare for and respond to major oil spills.
Country representatives met in Koper, Slovenia (17-19 June) to focus on implementing the Adriatic Oil Spill Plan - the blueprint for coordinated regional action, based on IMO regulations and best practices. It is supported by IMO and the UN Environment Programme's Mediterranean Action Plan.
Maritime officials and policymakers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia along with observers from Morocco and Spain covered critical legal and technical aspects of key IMO Conventions related to oil pollution and liability and compensation (OPRC 1990, CLC, FUND 1992, as well as the Bunkers Convention), including:
- liability and compensation, including practical guidance on compiling and supporting claims;
- compliance with international standards; and
- the concept of 'reasonableness' in claims submission.
As officers responsible for implementing and incorporating IMO conventions into national law, participants shared best practices and discussed practical steps needed to establish national systems to support ratification and full implementation of these instruments.
Lectures and practical exercises were jointly delivered by the IOPC Funds, the International Group of P&I Associations and ITOPF. Experts from the IOPC Funds and P&I Clubs explained their key role in the compensation process, and how claims are assessed and paid. A site visit was organized to the National Maritime Control and Safety Centre in the Port of Koper.
The workshop was organized and delivered by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC) through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP).
