4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT LONDON SE1 7SR Telephone: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0)

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1 E 4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT LONDON SE1 7SR Telephone: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) Circular Letter No January 2015 To: All former Contracting States to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 (1971 Fund Convention) All IMO Members All other States which would be invited to attend sessions of the 1971 Fund Assembly as observers Intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations which had observer status with the 1971 Fund Subject: Meeting of all former Contracting States to the 1971 Fund Convention (17 April 2015) 1 The Secretary-General in his capacity as the Depositary of the 1971 Fund Convention, has the honour to invite representation at a meeting of all former Contracting States to the 1971 Fund Convention, which will be held at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR. The meeting will be opened on Friday, 17 April 2015, at 9.30 a.m. and is expected to end at a.m. the same day. 2 The 1971 Fund Administrative Council, at its October 2014 session, adopted resolution 18 on the Dissolution of the 1971 Fund. In accordance with paragraph 1 of the resolution, the 1971 Fund was dissolved with effect from the last day of the 2014 financial year (31 December 2014) and its legal personality has therefore ceased to exist. As requested by the 1971 Fund Administrative Council, the Secretary-General of IMO is therefore convening a meeting, following a final audit of the 1971 Fund by the External Auditor, to review and approve the Financial Statements of the 1971 Fund for the 2014 financial year. 3 The Rules that applied to the 1971 Fund Administrative Council at its October 2014 session 1 will be applicable to the meeting, as appropriate. Seminar to commemorate the 1971 Fund 4 A seminar commemorating the 1971 Fund is expected to take place after the meeting. Further details and a programme will be available in due course from 1 The Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, as supplemented by resolutions 13, 15, 17 and 18.

2 Circular Letter No.3524 Page 2 Registration at IMO meetings 5 Member Governments, IGOs and NGOs are required to provide, prior to the meeting date, the names of their representatives, including Permanent Representatives, heads of delegations, alternates, advisers or observers, via the Online Meeting Registration System (OMRS), as advised in Circular Letter No.3463 of 14 July This facilitates both their entry into the building and production of the list of participants by the Secretariat. 6 Once they have completed the registration procedure, delegates will be issued with an electronic access card to pass through the security barrier in the IMO building. Issue of the access card will require photographic proof of identity, e.g. passport, identity card or driving licence. Delegates may also be required to show proof of identity at any time while they are in the Headquarters building, if requested by IMO Security. In view of the significant costs incurred in producing access cards, delegates who have previously been issued with one are kindly requested to bring it with them for reactivation. 7 Any matters relating to the use of the OMRS should be communicated to: Registration Unit Meeting Services and Interpretation Section onlineregistration@imo.org 8 No representative will be registered to attend the meeting without authorization from their OMRS Delegation Coordinator. New delegates whose names appear in the OMRS will be issued with the above-mentioned access card. Delegates whose names are not on the OMRS list will be requested to contact their OMRS Delegation Coordinator in order to process their authorization to attend the meeting. 9 Delegates are advised that the Registration Desk will be open from 7.30 a.m. on Friday, 17 April 2015, when early arrival would be appreciated. 10 General information on administrative and housekeeping issues relating to meetings at IMO may be found in an information leaflet for delegates, which can be downloaded from IMODOCS and is also available at the Documents and Meeting Services counters on the ground floor and second floor, respectively. Delegates are kindly requested to familiarize themselves with the contents of the information leaflet. Procedure governing IMO support for visa applications 11 Delegates invited by the Organization who require United Kingdom entry visas should, in the first instance, apply for a visa at the nearest British Consulate or Embassy and obtain reference numbers. The necessary documentation (such as a copy of the IMO programme of meetings usually issued during December/January each year; the original and relevant IMO official letter of invitation usually issued some six months prior to the time the meeting is to convene at IMO; or the nomination letter together with a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) must accompany such visa applications. 12 Delegates must be nominated by the Ministry of Transport (or any other competent ministry) or by the National Maritime Administration. The nomination letter should be taken to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for preparation of a note verbale addressed to the British Embassy/High Commission.

3 Circular Letter No.3524 Page 3 13 If, after following the above-mentioned procedure, delegates still encounter visa problems, either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport or the National Maritime Administration should communicate in writing on paper bearing the official letterhead the following details to the Deputy Director/Head, Human Resources Services of IMO, requesting visa assistance and stating the reasons given by the British Embassy/High Commission as to why visas have been or may be refused. i ii iii First name: Family name: Profession: Date of birth: Place of birth: Type of passport: Passport No: Place of issue: Date of issue: Valid until: Visa reference number: Date and place of visa application: Purpose of visit: Duration of anticipated stay in the United Kingdom: 14 This exercise must be undertaken at least six weeks before the date on which the session begins, to enable the Organization to support the visa application accordingly and the visa to be issued in good time 2. *** 2 Requests for visa assistance should be sent to IMO by fax (+44(0) ) or by visa@imo.org.

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5 E MEETING OF ALL FORMER CONTRACTING STATES TO THE 1971 FUND CONVENTION Agenda item 1 71FUND/1 5 January 2015 Original: ENGLISH PROVISIONAL AGENDA for a meeting of all former Contracting States to the 1971 Fund Convention to be held at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR on Friday, 17 April 2015 Session commences at 9.30 a.m. Opening of the session 1 Adoption of the agenda 2 Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairmen 3 Financial Statements 4 Any other business 5 Consideration and adoption of the report of the meeting