In front, left to right: John McMurtrie, David Usher and Dr Douglas Cormack
Back row left Prof. Wierd Koops and right, Dr Mervin Fingas
There can be few figures as well known in the oil spill world as John McMurtrie, who has, regrettably, decided to retire from the ISCO Council. John has been with ISCO since it was founded in 1984 when a transatlantic group of like-minded individuals met at a USA pollution response conference to discuss a potential initiative to establish an organisation to promote international co-operation against incidents causing environmental pollution.
Following a number of meetings, David Usher took the initiative and registered the International Spill Control Organisation Ltd in London in 1984.
Membership of ISCO was later expanded to include all parties with an interest in its aim “to raise worldwide preparedness and co-operation in response to oil and chemical spills, to promote technical development and professional competency, and to provide a focus for making the knowledge and experience of spill control professionals available to IMO, UNEP, EC and other organisations”.
International membership grew quickly and ISCO was later recognised by IMO with the award of Consultative Status.
John hosted the first meeting held alongside a BOSCA meeting at Balbithan, Aberdeenshire. He jointly chaired the yearly AGMs since 1985 held at pollution control conferences in USA and London as well as in Malta, Netherlands and France.
In 2005 David Usher asked John to create and edit an ISCO newsletter and after producing 958 weekly issues John eventually retired from this voluntary task in 2025 after handing the reins to Rob Cox, formerly of IPIECA.
John tells us he is deeply grateful for the dedication and camaraderie of everyone he has worked with at ISCO and likewise he leaves the organisation with big shoes to fill, particularly with regard to the newsletter. He will not easily be forgotten by anyone who has worked with him. We at ISCO thank him for his service and wish him fair weather and all the best for the future.
