Oil Pollution Incident News

The ongoing oil pollution incident from the grounded 203,000 DWT bulk carrier MV Wakashio is threatening an ecological catastrophe around the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, endangering corals, fish and other marine life already under threat from climate change (IPCC 2018).In addition, it risks bringing devastating consequences for the economy, food security, health and tourism industry. Tourism in Mauritius - a popular destination for its pristine beaches - reportedly contributed about $1.6 billion to its economy during the last year…

Increased maritime traffic as well as offshore oil and gas industries in west and central Africa means more risks of oil spill in the region, pointed out International Maritime Organization (IMO).To strengthen the capability for preparedness and response of a potential oil spill, a workshop underwent in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (18-21 March).The event aimed to help participants with to ratify and effectively implement IMO conventions relating to oil pollution and liability and compensation, said the UN Body.Participants were trained on how to best transpose IMO treaties into domestic laws. The workshop also looked at the technical context…

The latest sub-regional contingency plan to deal with any oil pollution incident in the Mediterranean Sea has been signed, following support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO)-administered Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC). An Implementation Agreement on the Sub-Regional Marine Oil Pollution Contingency Plan was signed in Nicosia, Cyprus (8 May) by Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, along with other instruments for cooperation among the three countries. The objective of the contingency plan is an effective reaction to spills. It also aims to facilitate the co-operation among the three countries in the field of oil pollution preparedness and response.

International experts have been sharing experiences, new technologies and scientific advancements relating to oil spill response at the International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) in Long Beach, United States (15-18 May). The theme of the conference is “prevent, prepare, respond and restore”, which fully aligns with  International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s regulatory work to prevent oil spills from occurring and also its work to support countries to be prepared to respond to such incidents. IMO`s capacity-building activities include training for oil pollution preparedness and response through simulation of oil spills. IMO is a co-sponsor of the triennial conference alongside the oil industry body IPIECA…

Neil Roberts, Manager, Marine and Aviation, Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA), United Kingdom, and International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) Ocean Hull Committee Secretary and Political Forum Liaison discuses  about the position paper published by IUMI. The paper is published in response to the recent Commission report on liability, compensation and financial security for offshore oil and gas operations, which raised some questions in relation to the implementation of the Offshore Safety Directive. Whilst the report acknowledged that there has been no serious oil pollution incident due to offshore activity in the EU since 1988, it…

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meets for its 68th session from May 11-15, 2015, at IMO Headquarters in London. Items on the agenda include the proposed adoption of the environmental part of the Polar Code and associated draft MARPOL amendments to make the Code mandatory; the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention; further work on air pollution and energy efficiency measures; and a proposal to extend the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) to parts of the Coral Sea.

When a vessel-related accident occurs on the navigable waters of the United States, the investigation machinery starts up almost immediately. The operator, owner, or person in charge of a vessel involved in such a casualty is obliged to give the soonest practicable notification, often followed by a written report, to the local Coast Guard Sector or office. This begins a process in which livelihoods, liberty, and civil liability might all be at stake. Careful thought is required when the Coast Guard investigating officer calls to request an interview.

The Coast Guard published a final rule amending Coast Guard regulations under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 138, governing requirements for vessel owners and operators to establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility. The amendments ensure the amounts of financial responsibility that must be demonstrated under the Coast Guard's Certificate of Financial Responsibility program are consistent with increases to the OPA 90 limits of liability by the Delaware River Protection Act of 2006. The amendments also increase the COFR application and certification fees, and eliminate the requirement that an original printed COFR be carried aboard covered vessels.

Increased levels of compensation will be available for victims of oil pollution from oil tanker accidents on 3 March 2005 with the entry into force of the 2003 Protocol establishing an International Oil Pollution Compensation Supplementary Fund. The Fund will supplement the compensation available under the 1992 Civil Liability Convention (CLC) and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (FUND), with an additional, third tier of compensation. Participation is optional and is open to all States which are parties to the 1992 Fund Convention. The total amount of compensation payable for any one incident will be limited to a combined total of 750 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR) (just over US$1…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is to collaborate in efforts to mount a coordinated response from UN agencies and other concerned parties, including regional Governments, to the oil spill currently affecting the coastal and marine environments of Lebanon and Syria. The spill, estimated to be one of the largest ever to affect the Mediterranean, follows an incident in mid-July in which an oil storage unit at a power plant in Jiyyeh, 30 km south of Beirut, sustained bombing damage during the current conflict. Theme: --Select Story Tmeme-- Anchor Handling Tugs Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) Ballast Water Management Barges Bulk…

All single-hulled oil tankers visiting Australian ports will be subject to increased inspections, under new measures to protect the marine environment announced today. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, John Anderson, said further protection would come through the introduction of legislation to increase the amount of compensation following an oil spill to $480 million. Anderson said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has upgraded its inspection regime after the sinking of the Prestige off Spain and the European Commission's subsequent crackdown on certain vessels. Anderson said AMSA's…

The International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPCF) issued a News Release

held at IMO Headquarters from 12-16 May 2003. Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992. for pollution damage caused by oil spills at sea. Protocol. regime, which will remain unaltered. regime. The limits of compensation will be set by the diplomatic conference. existing IOPC Fund system. Protocol. claims made against the supplementary Fund. laid down in the 1992 Fund Convention. Fund Assembly agrees to this arrangement. Damage, (Fund Convention) 1971 replaced the original Conventions. on the shipowner, up to a set limit. contributions by oil receivers. interests. compensation payable to victims of pollution by oil from oil tankers. enter into force on 1 November 2003. gross tonnage, up from 59.7 million SDR in the 1992 Protocol.