Black Sea littoral countries target better enforcement of IMO liability and compensation conventions

Maritime stakeholders from Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Türkiye and Ukraine have strengthened their capacity to enforce the IMO liability and compensation regime, following a workshop held in Batumi, Georgia (6-11 October).

The IMO liability and compensation regime ensures that victims of maritime incidents receive prompt and adequate compensation, while establishing clear, uniform and limited liability rules for shipowners to ensure a level playing field for safe and clean shipping in the region.

The Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, in cooperation with IMO, hosted the Sub-regional workshop, bringing together representatives of maritime administrations and legal practitioners in the Black Sea region to enhance their understanding and improve application of key international conventions governing maritime liability and compensation, including:

• the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (1992 CLC);
• the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (1992 Fund Convention);
  
• the Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (2010 HNS Convention);
• the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (2001 Bunkers Convention);
• the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (2007 Nairobi WRC); and
• the International Convention on Salvage (1989 Salvage Convention).

Opening the workshop, Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia representative Mr. David Varshanidze encouraged all participating Member States to accede to and fully implement all relevant IMO instruments on liability and compensation for maritime transport. This would help ensure that costs arising from maritime incidents are properly covered and also enhance sustainable shipping, noting recent incidents where compensation for damages was inadequate or where ships just lacked the relevant insurance coverage.

Presentations were delivered by a team from the IMO Legal and External Relations Division, the IOPC Funds Secretariat, and the P & I Clubs, alongside contributions from national representatives highlighting their domestic law-making and implementation processes. These exchanges highlighted national experiences and challenges in aligning with IMO conventions.

The workshop is expected to contribute to the ratification, implementation and enforcement of the IMO's liability and compensation instruments across all participating Member States.