THE CARRIAGE OF OIL BY SEA AND APPLICABLE CIVIL LIABILITY REGIME

Abstract

The focus of this paper was to survey relevant literatures in carriage of goods contract and oil pollution response of sea going vessels. It also discussed the liability and compensation regime available at International law, including voluntary schemes by tanker owners. The objective of the paper was to establish how oil is carried by sea and to show how states and tanker owners are to respond in cases of escape of oil from tanker or tanker’s disaster in order to set limit of liability of tanker owners, jurisdiction and time to bring an action among other things. It is expected that timely response in cases of oil leakage, quick dispensation of litigation and prompt, adequate compensation and remediation works on the sea will be a win for all parties and riparian owners of the sea shores and coastal environment.