20 years of SCOPIC: the challenges and changes

Helene Peter-Davies, at MFB Solicitors, takes a look back at the evolution of the SCOPIC clause

There is little doubt among the salvage fraternity that the SCOPIC Clause, when introduced in 1999, brought a welcomed level of certainty regarding remuneration for salvage services to all stakeholders that previously was not available under the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) and article 14 regime. It took away some of the resistance of contractors to provide services where property was in a situation of extreme danger or was of little value and eliminated the rather complex, very costly and somewhat indeterminate remuneration calculations associated with an article 14 award.