{"id":469,"date":"2024-07-06T16:14:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T16:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/liability-for-oil-spills-emanating-from-ships-in-bahamian-waters\/"},"modified":"2024-07-07T13:56:27","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T13:56:27","slug":"liability-for-oil-spills-emanating-from-ships-in-bahamian-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/liability-for-oil-spills-emanating-from-ships-in-bahamian-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"Liability for oil spills emanating from ships in Bahamian waters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_section-76fcdba7f378bcd724711bb4229931c1\">\n.avia-section.av-av_section-76fcdba7f378bcd724711bb4229931c1{\nbackground-color:#3d3d3d;\nbackground-image:url(https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/page-resource-bg.jpg);\nbackground-repeat:no-repeat;\nbackground-position:50% 0%;\nbackground-attachment:scroll;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-av_section-76fcdba7f378bcd724711bb4229931c1 main_color avia-section-no-padding avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-full-stretch avia-bg-style-scroll av-minimum-height av-minimum-height-60 av-height-percent  container_wrap fullsize'  data-section-bg-repeat='stretch' data-av_minimum_height_pc='60' data-av_min_height_opt='percent'><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-469'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div class='flex_column_table av-av_three_fifth-b1ac823ad80d104edd5272d6a6b85521 sc-av_three_fifth av-equal-height-column-flextable'><div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fifth-b1ac823ad80d104edd5272d6a6b85521 av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f{\npadding-bottom:10px;\ncolor:#ffffff;\nfont-size:42px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:42px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f .special-heading-inner-border{\nborder-color:#ffffff;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:0.8em;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-lyblva9y-3275d9da3327f633bd7dd8c4825c664f av-special-heading-h1 custom-color-heading blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-2  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  av-inherit-size'><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Liability for oil spills emanating from ships in Bahamian waters<\/h1><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='av-flex-placeholder'><\/div><div  class='flex_column av-av_two_fifth-ae2cd6b1f49e83f5dbcce51aa112b1d0 av_two_fifth  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_three_fifth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. Autoclose: 1 --><\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-av_section-7af9a1a620ce4f39c9b9e05e20762bd9 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-469'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<div class='flex_column_table av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 sc-av_four_fifth av-equal-height-column-flextable'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2\">\n.flex_column.av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_four_fifth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 av_four_fifth  avia-builder-el-5  el_before_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><p><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-3a876428eececa9d35452247ddb053af\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-3a876428eececa9d35452247ddb053af{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-3a876428eececa9d35452247ddb053af hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_codeblock  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. Autoclose: 1 --><div class='flex_column_table av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 sc-av_three_fourth av-equal-height-column-flextable'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2\">\n.flex_column.av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_three_fourth-8a58639afa400a410e48c8abf84368e2 av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_four_fifth  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-lybluo5d-0e31019cb32ffc4204b4b78f30a70b7a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3>Liability for oil spills emanating from ships in Bahamian waters<\/h3>\n<p>By: Rodman Deleveaux, McKinney, Bancroft &amp; Hughes<\/p>\n<p>Marine pollution, in its varying forms, adversely affects oceans, coastal zones and marine ecosystems upon which humans significantly depend. Oil pollution is a form of marine pollution that has gained notoriety since the mid-nineteenth century as a result of the increase in the use of oil tankers and the frequency of accidents which result in oil spills.<\/p>\n<p>In The Bahamas, the conservation and protection of the marine environment is of paramount importance as the Bahamian economy and heritage are inextricably linked to its marine resources. Along with enhancing The Bahamas\u2019 biodiversity and influencing Bahamian culture, the Bahamian marine<br \/>\nenvironment provides economic benefits through the tourism, fishing, and shipping industries.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, in addition to adopting and enforcing measures to preserve and protect the Bahamian marine environment, it is imperative that The Bahamas adheres to an international civil liability regime for oil pollution damage which imposes liability for loss or damge suffered as a\u00a0result of oil spills emanating from ships in Bahamian waters.<\/p>\n<h4>The International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (the \u201cCCL\u201d)<\/h4>\n<p>The Bahamas ratified the CCL by way of the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act. Accordingly, the provisions of the CCL carry the force of law in The Bahamas. In the event of an oil spill emanating from the cargo of a ship traversing Bahamian waters a claim can be made for loss or damage suffered as a result of the pollution damage.<\/p>\n<p><em>Scope of application<\/em><\/p>\n<p>For a claim to fall within the ambit of the CCL, there would need to be oil pollution damage resulting from the spill of a persistent oil from a ship in the territory, territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone (the \u201cEEZ\u201d) or the equivalent thereof of a party to the CCL. For the purposes of the CCL pollution damage is defined as \u201c<em>(a) loss or damage caused outside the ship by\u00a0 contamination resulting from the escape or discharge of oil from the ship, wherever such escape or discharge may occur, provided that compensation for impairment of the environment other than loss of profit from such impairment shall be limited to costs of reasonable measures of<br \/>\nreinstatement actually undertaken or to be undertaken; (b) the costs of preventive measures and\u00a0further loss or damage caused by preventive measures\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that the provisions of the CCL do not limit the scope of liability\u00a0merely to environmental damage and the cost of cleanup operations. Pursuant to the provisions of the CCL, claims can also be made for physical injury and loss of income resuting from the pollution damage.<\/p>\n<p>For the purposes of the CCL, oil is defined as \u201c<em>any persistent hydrocarbon mineral oil such as crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil and lubricating oil, whether carried on board a ship as cargo or in the bunkers of such a ship.<\/em>\u201d Additionally, the term ship is defined as \u201c<em>any sea-going vessel and seaborne craft of any type whatsoever constructed or adapted for the carriage of oil in<\/em><br \/>\n<em>bulk as cargo, provided that a ship capable of carrying oil and other cargoes shall be regarded as a ship only when it is actually carrying oil in bulk as cargo and during any voyage following such carriage unless it is proved that it has no residues of such carriage of oil in bulk board.<\/em>\u201d Ships\u00a0which are registered in countries which are not parties to the CCL also fall within the scope of the<br \/>\nCCL.<\/p>\n<p>Accordingly, a claim may be commenced under the provisions of the CCL should there be a spill of oil being transported on an oil tanker, irrespective of whether the oil sill emanates from\u00a0the cargo or the bunker of the ship. Furthermore, any claim for compensation under the CCL may only be commenced before the courts of the party to the CCL in whose territory, territorial sea or EEZ the pollution damage has occurred. Accordingly, the courts of The Bahamas would be the proper forum to hear claims made under the CCL for damage caused by pollution in the territory, territorial sea or EEZ of The Bahamas.<\/p>\n<p><em>Strict liability<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The CCL imposes strict liability on the owner of a ship at the time of an incident or, where the incident consists of a series of occurrences, at the time of the first such occurrence. The owner of a ship is defined as \u201c<em>the person or persons registered as the owner of the ship or, in the absence of registration, the person or persons owning the ship. However in the case of a ship owned by a State and operated by a company which in that State is registered as the ship\u2019s operator, \u2018owner\u2019 shall mean such company<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, it should be noted that a claim under the CCL cannot be made against a charterer of a ship unless it can be proven that the pollution damage was caused by the charterer\u2019s personal act or omission, committed with intent to cause damage or committed recklessly and with knowledge that such damage would probably result.<\/p>\n<p>Notwithstanding the fact that the CCL imposes strict liability, a ship owner can escape liability if it can be proven that the pollution damage:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">(i) resulted from an act of war or a natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible character;<br \/>\n(ii) was wholly caused by an act or omission done with intent to cause damage by a third party;<br \/>\n(iii) was wholly caused by the negligence or other wrongful act of any Government or other authority responsible for the maintenance of lights or other navigational aids in the exercise of that function; or<br \/>\n(iv) resulted wholly or partially either from an act or omission done with intent to cause damage by the person who suffered the damage or from the negligence of that person.<\/p>\n<p><em>Insurance<\/em><\/p>\n<p>For ships carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of oil as cargo in bulk, it is incumbent on the ship owner to maintain insurance to cover his liability under the CCL.<\/p>\n<p><em>Limitation period<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Claims under the CCL must be commenced either:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">(i) within 3 years of the date when the damaged occurred; or<br \/>\n(ii) within 6 years of the date of the incident which caused the damage.<\/p>\n<p><em>Limitation of liability<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Save in circumstances where it is proven that the pollution damage resulted from the personal act or omission of the ship owner, committed with the intent to cause such damage or committed recklessly and with knowledge that such damage would probably result, the CCL entitles the ship owner who is subject to a claim under the provisions of the CCL to limit his liability to an amount determined by the size of the ship.<\/p>\n<p><em>Liability outside the scope of the CCL<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It should be noted that the CCL does not prohibit those who suffer damage or loss as a result of an oil spill from commencing claims which do not fall within the definition of pollution damage as prescribed by the CCL. Oil pollution often results in loss or damage not directly caused by the oil contamination. An example of this would be loss of life or damage to property caused by an explosion. Claims for such loss would be subject to the applicable domestic law.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The above article was published by Lexology on 31<sup>st<\/sup>\u00a0July 2018:<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lexology.com\/library\/detail.aspx?g=ce177fb2-09ff-4522-9345-53ad9d8cf1dc&amp;utm_source=lexology+daily+newsfeed&amp;utm_medium=html+email+-+body+-+general+section&amp;utm_campaign=lexology+subscriber+daily+feed&amp;utm_content=lexology+daily+newsfeed+2018-08-01&amp;utm_term\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/www.lexology.com\/library\/detail.aspx?g%3Dce177fb2-09ff-4522-9345-53ad9d8cf1dc%26utm_source%3Dlexology%2Bdaily%2Bnewsfeed%26utm_medium%3Dhtml%2Bemail%2B-%2Bbody%2B-%2Bgeneral%2Bsection%26utm_campaign%3Dlexology%2Bsubscriber%2Bdaily%2Bfeed%26utm_content%3Dlexology%2Bdaily%2Bnewsfeed%2B2018-08-01%26utm_term&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1534339254897000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHdQpqEAujD8m_0Yk_WY1zeV0EtyQ\">https:\/\/www.lexology.com\/library\/detail.aspx?g=ce177fb2-09ff-4522-9345-53ad9d8cf1dc&amp;utm_source=lexology+daily+newsfeed&amp;utm_medium=html+email+-+body+-+general+section&amp;utm_campaign=lexology+subscriber+daily+feed&amp;utm_content=lexology+daily+newsfeed+2018-08-01&amp;utm_term<\/a>=<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><u>Rodman Deleveaux:<\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rodman Deleveaux is an Associate of the firm and deals primarily with commercial transactions. As a transactional attorney, Rodman is routinely involved in matters involving real estate, banking and finance, asset protection structures, company law and employment law.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-button-wrap av-lybluv46-92ef03eee9200795bdfd49177cc1d1d4-wrap avia-button-left  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last '><a href='https:\/\/cedsto3.dreamhosters.com\/mbh\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Liability-for-oil-spills-emanating-from-ships-in-Bahamian-waters.pdf'  class='avia-button av-lybluv46-92ef03eee9200795bdfd49177cc1d1d4 av-link-btn avia-icon_select-yes-right-icon avia-size-large avia-position-left av-icon-on-hover avia-color-theme-color'  target=\"_blank\"  rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >DOWNLOAD PDF<\/span><span class='avia_button_icon avia_button_icon_right' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue879' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/p><\/div><div class='av-flex-placeholder'><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_fourth-b9b2a0bc9aa2512cefc5e0e7e7441cc9\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_fourth-b9b2a0bc9aa2512cefc5e0e7e7441cc9{\nbackground-color:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-av_one_fourth-b9b2a0bc9aa2512cefc5e0e7e7441cc9 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_table_cell av-equal-height-column av-align-bottom  '     ><\/div><\/div><!--close column table wrapper. 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