Liability and compensation for marine pollution and place of refuge

Abstract

Problem mjesta zakloništa posljednjih godina jedan je od najaktualnijih problema pomorskog prava. Međunarodna pomorska organizacija donijela je posebne Smjernice koje upućuju vlade obalnih država na određivanje mjesta zakloništa za brodove u nevolji kao i odgovarajući postupak glede donošenja odluke o prihvaćanja ili odbijanju ulaska broda u zaklonište. Smjernice ne sadržavaju odredbe o naknadi štete za eventualno onečišćenje mora koje prouzroči brod u nevolji. Autorica prikazuje osnovna obilježja posebnih međunarodnih režima odgovornosti za onečišćenje mora s brodova i njihovu primjenu na slučaj mjesta zakloništa. Zaključuje da navedeni režimi obalnim državama pružaju dovoljno sigurnosti za naknadu štete za slučaj onečišćenja koje bi prouzročio brod u nevolji, pod uvjetom da su odluke obalne države u svezi s mjestom zakloništa donesene na temelju stručnih mjerila propisanih posebnim propisom.The problem relating to the place of refuge has provoked widespread interest within the international maritime community. The IMO Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance, adopted in December 2003, include a number of criteria to be taken into account by coastal state authorities when responding to requests for places of refuge. However, they do not deal with liability and compensation for damage. This article examines the existing international legal regimes relevant to determine liability and compensation for accidental pollution caused by ships, and the applicability in the place of refuge. The author concludes that the liability and compensation rules should not have the effect of discouraging the accommodation of ships in distress by entailing sizeable financial risks for the coastal state. The existing international regimes of liability and compensation for pollution give sufficient protection to coastal states unless it is established that the state or competent authority has acted unreasonably in granting access to a place of refuge for ships