CIVIL LIABILITY FOR SHIPS’ OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE: THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATIONS ON COMPENSATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

Abstract

The civil liability regime for ships’ oil pollution allows victims of one country to make a financial claim for shipowners of another country. This article will analyze, examine the development of civil liability for environmental damage on global, and discuss civil liability for environmental damage that being set by international conventions on civil liability for ships’ oil pollution damage, focusing on the type of environmental reinstatement costs and the scope of geographical application of these conventions. It shows that: although the liability regime has fairly considered environmental claims, this is restricted by a narrow definition of damage and national boundaries of entitlement. Ships’ oil pollution harm to collective ecological interests, and it challenges to the civil liability framework - individual interests.