A comprehensive reference work for shipping and environmental lawyers and specialists The carriage of crude oil by sea is commonly associated with the disastrous effects of spills. Major spills include those from the Torrey Canyon, the Amoco Cadiz, the Exxon Valdez, the Haven, the Aegean Sea, the Braer and the Sea Empress. As these and other spills have indicated, the resultant pollution damage can take various forms and the resolution of ensuing disputes can be difficult and protracted. This is a detailed and thorough analysis of the law relating to liability and compensation for oil pollution damage caused by ships and covers legal issues which fall within the ambit of admiralty law and practice, international and domestic environmental law and the law relating to marine insurance. In particular, Oil Pollution at Sea: identifies the parties to litigation; details the range of remedies available and their quantification, examines relevant decisions of the IOPC Fund; analyses the limitation of liability and compensation; discusses rights and liabilities of salvors and insurers, and highlights jurisdictional issues which may arise.

This remarkable book - the first in-depth examination of the civil liability regime for marine oil pollution damage from a law and economics perspective - examines the efficiency and effectiveness of the regime, with particular attention to whether it is in fact designed in the public interest or merely a distribution of risks and costs among interested parties. The question is asked: does the liability system give the potential polluter incentives to take precautionary measures to avoid pollution or to reduce the possibility of pollution? The international regime on civil liability for marine oil pollution rests on the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (Fund Convention). However, the world's biggest oil consumer and importer - the United States - has ratified neither, preferring its own Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), and China - currently the world's second oil-consuming country - has not ratified the Fund Convention. Thus it is reasonable to compare the three regimes - international, US, and China - as such a comparative study may reveal some advantages or disadvantages among the three systems. Among the issues raised and tackled head-on by the author are the following: whether the contents of international conventions can be considered as the result of the influence of the various interest groups involve; overview of the regulations of marine pollution; technical standards, rules for operation, professional criteria; to what extent a state may take action against trans-boundary polluting activities; what liability a state may incur for non-action or non-effective action; significance for liability of the charter-party, generally considered the evidence of the hire of a ship, and the bill of lading, considered the evidence of the contract of carriage of goods by sea; the crucial role of the so-called 'International Group' of 13 Protection and Indemnity (P and I) Clubs, non-profit organizations specializing in liability insurance; the main international players - the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Comit? Maritime International (CMI), and industry organizations such as INTERTANKO and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF); the particular regime on offshore facility pollution liability in the United States; port state control; criminal liability; and EU and other regional initiatives. In addition, a detailed study of the Erika case reveals some of the rationale for many of the persistent features of marine pollution liability regimes. The well-thought-out legal and economic analysis provided in this book, along with its clearly stated policy recommendations and constructive perspectives for future development of the liability system, will be immeasurably valuable to lawyers and policymakers active in this highly visible area of international law.

The main focus of this important book is on civil liability regimes to compensate for ecological/environmental damage, the impact of EC decision-making on the international regime for oil pollution damage, the use of environmental funds in this respect, the economic valuation of damage to the environment from a theoretical perspective and the application of the Contingent Valuation Method in Belgium for ecological damage at sea.

In the last few years, the quantity of books and papers on the political, economic and legal problems of the exploration and use of the sea and marine resources has considerably increased. But the status and activities of intern a tional organizations related to maritime shipping, fisheries, scientific research in the World Ocean and the protection of the marine environment have not yet, as a whole, been represented in the scientific and reference literature. It would be fair, though, to mention that some general information on marine international organizations may be found in the Yearbook of International Organizations, Brussels, 1979; in Annotated Acronyms and Abbreviations of Marine Science Related International Organizations, U. S. Department of Commerce, 1976; and in the UN Annotated Directory ofIntergovernmental Organizations Concerned with Ocean Affairs, 1976. Voluminous informa tion on organizations engaged in problems of the exploration and use ofthe sea is given in International Marine Organizations by the well-known Polish scientists Lopuski and Symonides, 1978. Meanwhile the increasing volume of practical work related to the participa tion of governmental and scientific bodies as well as individual scientists and specialists in these organizations, the necessity of long-term planning in this field, and the perspectives of the development of these organizations, make necessary a special publication depicting the structure and many-sided activi ties of such international bodies. This book is the first one in which the most complete information on the main marine international organizations is presented.

This volume offers a review of measures taken at different levels to prevent oil inputs to the North Sea from sources such as shipping and oil installations. A range of data from satellites, remote sensing, aerial surveillance, in-situ monitoring, oil spill sampling and beached bird surveys presents a comprehensive portrait of trends in oil pollution over many years. Topics include Bonn Agreement-based actions to eliminate illegal and accidental pollution from ships, OSPAR monitoring of oil installations, EMSA CleanSeaNet activities, and an internationally approved common standard for oil spills presented by the Bonn-OSINet. A chapter on the role of the IMO in preventing oil pollution from ships provides an international context, while others discuss efforts being made at the national level. A decadal review of the state of the North Sea prepared by OSPAR supports the view that there has been a significant reduction of oil inputs to the sea. This thorough review addresses national and international agencies and government bodies, as well as policymakers and practitioners in the fields of shipping, ports and terminals, oil extraction and marine management. Further, it provides researchers with essential reference material on tools and techniques for monitoring oil pollution and offers a valuable resource for undergraduate and post-graduate students in the field of marine oil pollution.

This book reviews the practice of shared responsibility in multiple issue areas of international law, to assess its application and development.

U.S. Arctic waters north of the Bering Strait and west of the Canadian border encompass a vast area that is usually ice covered for much of the year, but is increasingly experiencing longer periods and larger areas of open water due to climate change. Sparsely inhabited with a wide variety of ecosystems found nowhere else, this region is vulnerable to damage from human activities. As oil and gas, shipping, and tourism activities increase, the possibilities of an oil spill also increase. How can we best prepare to respond to such an event in this challenging environment? Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment reviews the current state of the science regarding oil spill response and environmental assessment in the Arctic region north of the Bering Strait, with emphasis on the potential impacts in U.S. waters. This report describes the unique ecosystems and environment of the Arctic and makes recommendations to provide an effective response effort in these challenging conditions. According to Responding to Oil Spills in the U.S. Arctic Marine Environment, a full range of proven oil spill response technologies is needed in order to minimize the impacts on people and sensitive ecosystems. This report identifies key oil spill research priorities, critical data and monitoring needs, mitigation strategies, and important operational and logistical issues. The Arctic acts as an integrating, regulating, and mediating component of the physical, atmospheric and cryospheric systems that govern life on Earth. Not only does the Arctic serve as regulator of many of the Earth's large-scale systems and processes, but it is also an area where choices made have substantial impact on life and choices everywhere on planet Earth. This report's recommendations will assist environmentalists, industry, state and local policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of this special region to preserve and protect it from damaging oil spills.

The definitive guide to petroleum hydrocarbon fuel spill and leak causes, prevention, response, and cost recovery Oil Spills and Gas Leaks highlights the complex nature of petroleum hydrocarbon fuel extraction methods, the unintended consequences when disasters occur, spill behavior, and environmental impact mitigation. This practical resource discusses engineering techniques; long-term biological and environmental effects; dealing with insurance claims, litigation, and legislation in overlapping jurisdictions; and much more. Featuring global case studies and best practices, this timely volume provides an in-depth understanding of how oil spills and gas leaks occur and describes the most effective environmental assessment, remediation, and restoration options available to respond to these industrial accidents. Coverage includes: The role of petroleum hydrocarbon fuels in society Geology and geochemistry of oil and gas deposits Oil and gas well drilling and production issues Hydraulic fracturing for shale gas and oil Behavior of oil spills in various environments Behavior of gas leaks in various environments Assessment of spills and leaks Toxicity issues and exposure pathways Subsurface investigations Sampling strategies and remedial approaches Sampling methods on land and offshore Prevention, oversight, and mitigation Remediation of oil spills Case histories and cost recovery Oil spills and wildlife Oil spills and safety issues Conclusions and recommendations