Strengthening Maritime Liability and Compensation: Key Workshop Outcomes in Batumi

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

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

Hosted by the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia in collaboration with IMO, the Sub-regional workshop brought together representatives from maritime administrations and legal practitioners in the Black Sea region to improve their understanding and application of key international conventions governing maritime liability and compensation. These include:

• 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);
• The International Convention on Salvage (1989 Salvage Convention).

In his opening remarks, Mr. David Varshanidze from the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia encouraged all participating Member States to adopt and fully implement relevant IMO instruments on liability and compensation for maritime transport. This would ensure that costs arising from maritime incidents are adequately covered and promote sustainable shipping, especially in light of recent incidents where compensation was insufficient or where ships lacked the necessary insurance coverage.

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

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