Oil pollution : the IOPCF meets in Monaco
The Erika incident off the coast of Brittany in 1999, the Prestige incident off the coast of Galicia (Spain) in 2002 and more recently, in 2006, the “Solar 1” disaster in the Philippines… Oil pollution incidents always cause distress to the public considering the extent of the damage caused. The IOPCF (International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds) held their Executive Committee and two working sessions in the Principality from 11th to 14th March. After hosting the United Nations Environment Programme Governing Council from 20th to 22nd February, the meeting for the IOPCF governing bodies in Monaco expresses the Monegasque Government’s will to welcome international organisations particularly on issues relating to Sustainable Development.
The IOPCF, consisting of three intergovernmental organisations (the 1971 Fund, the 1992 Fund and the supplementary Fund) were implemented by the Member States to compensate victims of oil pollution damage. Their establishment dates back to the early seventies, following the oil spill caused by the Torrey Canyon off the coast of England. To date, around a hundred Member States belong to the various Funds (the 1971 Fund is about to cease).
IOPCF funds are financed by levies paid by entities (in general oil companies) that receive over 150 000 tons of oil carried by sea per year in the Member States. Today, Japan is in the lead with 17% of the 1992 Fund budget, followed by Italy (10%). France and India are in fifth place with 5%. Since they were first set up, the IOPCF have had to deal with 135 incidents worldwide. Compensation awarded to date amounts to 900 million US dollars.
Monaco is a member of the 1992 Fund and was awarded compensation amounting to 40 000 euros for the damage sustained after the “Haven” accident in the Golf of Genoa in 1991. Monaco is represented within the IOPCF governing bodies by the Department of Maritime Affairs, which is attached to the Department of Facilities, the Environment and Urban Planning