Iran remains committed to bolstering cooperation with the International Maritime Organization and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
In a recent meeting with representatives of the two organizations in London, the Iranian envoy to the IMO who doubles as the non-resident chargé d'affaires in the UK, Muhammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh, underlined the necessity of preserving the maritime environment in conformity with international norms. He also reemphasized Tehran's obligations in this regard.
Referring to measures taken by the Iranian delegation to the IMO, Director of the IOPC Fund, Jose Maura, said Iranian authorities have maintained positive interaction with the IOPC Fund in recent years, Shana reported.
The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund provides financial compensation for oil pollution damage that occurs in member states, resulting from spills of persistent oil from tankers. Iran is a member of the IOPC Fund since 2008.
"The Persian Gulf is the most strategic waterway in the world because of its importance in international oil trade," the IMO has declared. However, pollution in the strategic waterway has increased alarmingly over the past several decades due largely to oil leakage, extended drilling, oil extraction and waste disposal. Extensive damage was done to the sea during the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran military conflict and the so-called 'tanker war.'
Caspian Sea Drill
A two-day national and regional maneuver to tackle oil pollution in the Caspian Sea started Monday in Bandar Anzali (Anzali Port), in northern Gilan Province. Representatives from the Caspian littoral states are taking part.
Every year authorities from nine ports along the Caspian Sea meet to reemphasize their belief in and commitment to help curb oil pollution and enhance safety and rescue standards.
According to reports, the Caspian Sea, shared between five countries - Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan- is in critical condition with oil tankers alone dumping over 120,000 tons of pollutants annually. Booming exploitation of oil and gas resources, growing networks of pipelines and transport routes, industrial pollution from inflowing rivers and ground water are some of the many environmental challenges the sea is facing.
Pollution Insurance
Pursuant to the arrangements between the Iranian Shipowners' Association, the Union Maritime Transport Cooperatives in Iran, the Iranian Classification Society, the Asia Classification Society, and several insurance companies, Article 6 of the Law on Protection of Navigable Seas and Rivers Against Oil Pollution will come into force for all ships and tankers registered in Iran as of August 23, director of maritime affairs at the PMO, Siamak Sahraei, said Monday.
The article requires all Iranian ships, tankers, and vessels to obtain insurance against potential damages caused to the waters by oil spills.
Iran's first domestically-made oil spill response vessel named Daryapak 1 was launched on Sunday in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. The vessel, with a length of 13 meters and a width of 5.5m, can carry 22 crew members and is capable of collecting 550 cubic meters of oil contaminants.
Daryapak 1 is among the advanced vessels designed and manufactured inside the country, and can be used for cleaning up polluted waters in a short time. The vessel is equipped with two propulsion systems with a 360-degree angle for faster cleaning of oil spills at a depth of up to 25 meters.
