The EU marine oil pollution prevention regime – recent developments

Abstract:

This paper illustrates how the European Union has taken initiative with respect to the prevention of marine oil pollution. It is more particularly interesting to address the relationship between the evolutions at the international level through the International Maritime Organisation on the one hand and the evolutions at European Union level on the other. After an introduction first attention is given to the general evolution of maritime safety measures taken at EU level, then attention is more particularly paid to the important issue of port state control and to the notification and reporting systems. An important issue which has received a lot of attention in the media, especially after the 'Prestige' case, is the phasing out of single hull tankers and the role of classification societies in controlling maritime safety. The paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 and with a few concluding remarks.