The Minister of Blue Economy and Marine Resources, Sudheer Maudhoo, presented, this Tuesday, May 21, The Merchant Shipping (Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage) Bill. This bill aims to give force of law to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) of 1992, and the creation of an international fund for compensation for such damage as well as as well as the 2003 Protocol relating thereto. These treaties, underlined the minister, concern damage caused only by tankers transporting bulk fuels, to which Mauritius is a party.
The objective of this bill, maintained the Minister, is to ensure adequate compensation to those affected by damage due to pollution in the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone of Mauritius, resulting from the spill or oil escape, where this can occur whether the oil is transported in bulk on an oil tanker or used for the operation or propulsion of an oil tanker. By guaranteeing adequate compensation to victims of pollution, he said, the bill provides that any tanker carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of oil in bulk will not be able to enter or leave a port in Mauritius without being covered by a certificate. insurance or other financial guarantee meeting the requirements of Article VII of the CLC on liability for damage due to pollution.
In addition, persons receiving more than 150,000 tonnes of oil, as well as any person receiving oil thus imported, will have to pay contributions to the International Fund for Compensation for Damage due to Oil Pollution and to the International Supplementary Fund for Oil Pollution Damage. compensation for damage due to oil pollution.
The minister stressed that this bill specifically targets oil spills caused by tankers, thus excluding cruise and fishing vessels from its scope. He referenced the Wakashio incident in 2020, highlighting the significant costs associated with an oil spill and the importance of robust legislation to deal with such incidents.
The new bill aims to accelerate compensation procedures for those affected by such damage, while ensuring increased protection of Mauritius’ marine environment. He also mentioned major oil spills across the world in the past, where this compensation system has proven effective. “Mauritius is vulnerable to threats and is responsible for an immense marine ecosystem. We must secure the interests of the islands and punish those who threaten our maritime security. I witnessed the slowness of the compensation procedures,” said Sudheer Maudhoo.
