BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

Initial
Contributions
Annual
Contributions
Total Contribution
Contribution oer Tonne
f
1979 750 000 0.0008455 845
1980 10 000 000 0.0126100 12 610
1981 500 000 0.0005690 569
1982 860 000 0.0010357 1 036
1983 24 106 000 0.0260786 26 079
1984 0 O.OOOOOOO 0
1985 1500 000 0.0018306 1 831
1986 1 800 000 0.0023360 2 336
1987 1 200 000 0.0015347 1 535
1988 2 990 000 0.0037599 3 760
1989 4 800 000 0.0060256 6 026
1990 500 000 0.0005563 556
1991 26 700 000 0.0287013 28 701
1992 IO 950 000 0.0116210 11 621
f
0.0029543
Contribution
for
1 milliorTonnes
f
2 954
It should be noted that of the contribution levied in 1983 an amount of f13.9 million was later
repaid to the contributors.
4 Advantaaes of Membership of the IOPC Fund
4.1 The advantages for a State of being Member of the IOPC Fund can be summarised as follows.
If a pollution incident occurs involving a laden tanker, a total amount of US $83.8 million is
available to compensate victims, eg the Government or other authorities which have incurred
clean-up costs or costs for preventing or minimising pollution damage, and private individuals
who have suffered damage, eg fishermen whose boats and nets have been polluted or who
suffer loss of income as a result of the pollution, or hoteliers at a seaside resort whose income
is reduced. This is independent of the flag of the tanker, the ownership of the oil or the place
where the incident occurred, provided that the damage is suffered within the territory. including
the territorial sea, of a Member State.
4.2 In comparison with the voluntary industry schemes, TOVALOP and CRISTAL. the following
advantages of the system established by the Conventions should be pointed out. Under the
Conventions, the national courts of the country where the damage is caused are the final
arbiters of any dispute. The Conventions contribute to the unification of law in this field
(cf Article 235 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). By its decisions in
respect of various incidents, the IOPC Fund contributes to the development of international law,
thereby facilitating the harmonisation of law between Member States. The major decisions are
taken by the Assembly and the Executive Committee, composed of representatives-of Member
States, and Member Governments can thus influence the development of law within the IOPC
Fund, which is not the case in respect of the voluntary schemes. Finally, a system based on
conventions forming part of the national law of Contracting States gives a much higher degree
of stability than voluntary schemes.
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