CIVIL LIABILITY FOR SHIPS’ OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE: THE ROLE OF STATES IN ESTABLISHING GLOBAL UNIFIED RULES

Abstract

The issues of civil liability resulting from oil spills at sea have been concerned by the global community and given international regulations. Those international regulations are adopted by international agreements and conventions under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Among the major purposes of international agreements and conventions is to establish uniform rules and procedures for oil pollution on a global scale. Nevertheless, some influential maritime States are not fully participating in relevant international agreements. Such an attitude could jeopardize the common endeavor to achieve uniformity of the law on oil pollution on a global scale. This paper will analyze the role of states in achieving uniformity. For that purpose, the author will analyze the background of relevant international agreements, conventions; scrutinied reasons for as well as challenges of limited participation of the United States of America; and studying the national initiatives of the USA with a particular focus on OPA 1990. Probably, we could realise the importance of collective and full participation of States in order to achieve uniformity purpose of international agreements and conventions.