19-21 May 2026, the Regional Workshop on Claims and Compensation was held at Laico Hammamet in cooperation with the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPFC), the International Group of P&I Clubs and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF).
The workshop was conducted by Ali Kielany, Claims Manager from IOPCF, Erin Walton Associate Corporate Director at the International Group of P&I Clubs, and Natalie Kirk, Technical Advisor at ITOPF.
The event brought together 26 delegates representing MOIG members and various national ministries. Participating entities included AGOCO, APO ARC, ANPE, EPE, ETAP, Navy, ONPC, SEREPT, SGAM, TANKMED, TOPIC, TPAO and TPS.
The main objectives of the workshop were to gain an overview of the IMO Conventions, the Civil Liability Convention, Fund Convention, Supplementary Fund Protocol, Bunkers Convention and STOPIA/TOPIA, to explore the roles of the International Group of P&I Clubs, the IOPC Funds and ITOPF, to obtain an introduction to the technical aspects associated with oil spills, to identify the different categories of admissible claims and the procedures for submitting and assessing claims and to understand how the International Group of P&I Clubs, the IOPC Funds and ITOPF respond to incidents through case studies.
The programme featured a series of presentations covering key topics, including the legal framework, impacts of oil and HNS spills and response options, claims procedures, claims for clean-up and preventive measures, claims in the fisheries, mariculture and processing sectors, claims for property damage, claims in the tourism sector, as well as claims for wreck removal and environmental damage.
In addition, on the final day of the workshop, participants had the opportunity to apply their knowledge through a tabletop exercise simulating a collision between two tankers. MOIG members and representatives of Tunisian ministries worked together, exchanged perspectives and applied the knowledge acquired during the exercise in a constructive and engaging manner.
At the conclusion of the workshop, certificates were awarded to all participants by the experts from IOPCF, the International Group of P&I Clubs and ITOPF.
The Management Committee Members expressed their sincere gratitude to Ali Kielany, Erin Walton and Natalie Kirk for delivering a high-quality and insightful workshop, sharing their valuable expertise and significantly contributing to the success of the event.
As a token of appreciation for their valuable contributions to MOIG, the Management Committee Members presented commemorative trophies to the experts from IOPCF, the International Group of P&I Clubs and ITOPF.
