Singapore government authorities will demand compensation from the owner of the Singapore-flagged vessel, which suffered an oil spill on June 14 after being struck by another ship. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) declared on June 20 that the owner of the bunker ship Marine Honor is liable for the costs incurred.
Authorities seek oil spill compensation
Since the Merchant Marine Act of 1998, the liability of the owner of the Marine Honor falls under the “polluter pays” principle. This law, which implements the 1992 International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, establishes strict liability, which means that the owner is liable for pollution damage, regardless of the incident or fault.
[post_relacionado]The MPA emphasized that this principle facilitates claims by establishing a clear party against whom they can be brought without complications arising from proving fault. In addition, the owner of Marine Honor has the right of recourse against third parties for liability for the contamination.
Singapore government agencies intend to seek compensation for all costs incurred in the spill containment and cleanup measures, as well as for damage to infrastructure after the cleanup operation. Reasonable post-spill costs, economic losses and environmental damage may also be assessed for claims.
Legal actions following the oil incident
The incident occurred on June 14, when the Dutch dredging vessel Vox Maxima collided with the Marine Honor at the Pasir Panjang terminal, causing 400 tons of fuel to leak into the sea, and affecting the site’s ecosystem.
In a joint statement on June 20, Singaporean authorities reported that the beaches of St John, Lazarus and Kusu islands had been cleared of oily sand by June 19. The northern part of the Pasir Panjang terminal was also cleaned of oil slicks.
The last major oil spill in Singapore’s in Singapore’s waters occurred in 2014 , when three ship collisions in January and February resulted in a total of 760 tons of fuel spilled, polluting local waters.
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Source: The Straits Times
Photo: The Straits Times / Lim Yaohui