ITOPF is likely the biggest shipowners’ association you’ve never heard of. The not-for-profit technical body, based in east London’s Shoreditch, helps deal with the clean-up of oil pollution at sea.

Its scientists provide 24-hour technical advice in the event of oil spills, and are often one of the first on the scene of a spill and the longest to stay — working with local people, governments and businesses to ensure clean-up and regeneration of the affected area as well as assessing any claims arising from the event.

In this week’s podcast, Europe Editor-in-Chief Helen Kelly speaks with ITOPF managing director Dr Karen Purnell, about how ITOPF is evolving beyond oil pollution at sea, and why flag states should file accident investigation reports much more quickly.

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