The Torrey Canyon incident off the English coast in March 1967 resulted in a spill of oil causing pollution damage of an extent hiterto unknown. This incident made the world aware of the need for international regimes of liability and compensation for...
The Torrey Canyon incident off the English coast in March 1967 resulted in a spill of oil causing pollution damage of an extent hiterto unknown. This incident made the world aware of the need for international regimes of liability and compensation for pollution damage caused by spills of oil from tankers. following the Torrey Canyon disaster. the International Maritime Organization(IMO) convened a Diplomatic Conference in Brussels in 1969. which adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage(Civil Liability Convention, CLC). This Convention lays down the principle of strict liability for shipowners and provides for a system of compulsory insurance. The 1969 Conference noted, however, that the Civil Liability Convention regime was inadequate as it might not provide full compensation regime was inadequate as it might not provide full compensation to victims of pollution damage and recognised the need for a scheme providing supplementary compensation. After futher deliberations within IMO. a Diplomatic conference was convened in Brussels in 1971. This Conference adopted the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage(Fund Convention). The fund convention sets up an international organisation, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund(IOPC Fund). to administer the system of compensation created by that Convention.
The C. L. C. entered into force in 1975 and the fund convention in 1978. As at 15 August 1991. the C. L. C. has 67 Contracting States, and Fund Convention 45 Contracting States. Both the C. L. C. and the Fund Convention have been amended by Protocols in 1976 and 1984. The 1976 amendments were of a technical nature. The 1984 Protocols imply fundamental amendments to conventions.
Referring to the contents of the above conventions. I will propose the direction of legislation for the special code of compensation for the oil pollution from ships.