Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971 (repealed 1.1.1996) Liability for oil pollution. 1 1 Where, as a result of any occurrence taking place while a ship is carrying a cargo of persistent oil in bulk, any persistent oil carried by the ship (whether as part of the cargo or otherwise) is discharged or escapes from the ship, the owner of the ship shall be liable, except as otherwise provided by this Act,— a for any damage caused in the area of the United Kingdom by contamination resulting from the discharge or escape; and b for the cost of any measures reasonably taken after the discharge or escape for the purpose of preventing or reducing any such damage in the area of the United Kingdom; and c for any damage caused in the area of the United Kingdom by any measures so taken. 2 Where a person incurs a liability under subsection (1) of this section he shall also be liable for any damage or cost for which he would be liable under that subsection if the references therein to the area of the United Kingdom included the area of any other Convention country. 3 Where persistent oil is discharged or escapes from two or more ships and— a a liability is incurred under this section by the owner of each of them; but b the damage or cost for which each of the owners would be liable cannot reasonably be separated from that for which the other or others would be liable; each of the owners shall be liable, jointly with the other or others, for the whole of the damage or cost for which the owners together would be liable under this section. 4 For the purposes of this Act, where more than one discharge or escape results from the same occurrence or from a series of occurrences having the same origin, they shall be treated as one; but any measures taken after the first of them shall be deemed to have been taken after the discharge or escape. 5 The Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 and, in Northern Ireland, the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 shall apply in relation to any damage or cost for which a person is liable under this section, but which is not due to his fault, as if it were due to his fault. Liability for oil pollution in case of other ships. 1A 1 Where, as a result of any occurrence, any persistent oil is discharged or escapes from a ship other than a ship to which section 1 of this Act applies (that is to say a ship carrying a cargo of persistent oil in bulk), then (except as otherwise provided by this Act) the owner of the ship shall be liable— a for any damage caused outside the ship in the area of the United Kingdom by contamination resulting from the discharge or escape; and b for the cost of any measures reasonably taken after the discharge or escape for the purpose of preventing or minimising any damage so caused in the area of the United Kingdom by contamination resulting from the discharge or escape; and c for any damage so caused in the area of the United Kingdom by any measures so taken. 2 Where, as a result of any occurrence, there arises a grave and imminent threat of damage being caused outside a ship other than a ship to which section 1 of this Act applies by the contamination which might result if there were a discharge or escape of persistent oil from the ship, then (except as otherwise provided by this Act) the owner of the ship shall be liable— a for the cost of any measures reasonably taken for the purpose of preventing or minimising any such damage in the area of the United Kingdom; and b for any damage caused outside the ship in the area of the United Kingdom by any measures so taken; and in the subsequent provisions of this Act any such threat is referred to as a relevant threat of contamination. 3 Where— a as a result of any occurrence, a liability is incurred under this section by the owner of each of two or more ships, but b the damage or cost for which each of the owners would be liable cannot reasonably be separated from that for which the other or others would be liable, each of the owners shall be liable, jointly with the other or others for the whole of the damage or cost for which the owners together would be liable under this section. 4 The Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945 and, in Northern Ireland, the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 shall apply in relation to any damage or cost for which a person is liable under this section but which is not due to his fault, as if it were due to his fault. 5 In this section “ ship ” includes a vessel which is not sea-going. Exceptions from liability under s. 1. 2 The owner of a ship from which persistent oil has been discharged or has escaped shall not incur any liability under section 1 of this Act if he proves that the discharge or escape— a resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war, insurrection or an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible natural phenomenon; or b was due wholly to anything done or left undone by another person, not being a servant or agent of the owner, with intent to do damage; or c was due wholly to the negligence or wrongful act of a government or other authority in exercising its function of maintaining lights or other navigational aids for the maintenance of which it was responsible. Exceptions from liability under section 1A. 2A o liability shall be incurred by the owner of a ship under section 1A of this Act by reason of any discharge or escape of persistent oil from the ship, or by reason of any relevant threat of contamination, if he proves that the discharge or escape, or (as the case may be) the threat of contamination— a resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war, insurrection or an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible natural phenomenon; or b was due wholly to anything done or omitted to be done by another person, not being a servant or agent of the owner, with intent to do damage; or c was due wholly to the negligence or wrongful act of a government or other authority in exercising its function of maintaining lights or other navigational aids for the maintenance of which it was responsible. Restriction of liability for oil pollution. 3 Where, as a result of any occurrence taking place while a ship is carrying a cargo of persistent oil in bulk, any persistent oil carried by the ship is discharged or escapes then, whether or not the owner incurs a liability under section 1 of this Act,— a he shall not be liable otherwise than under that section for any such damage or cost as is mentioned therein; and b no servant or agent of the owner nor any person performing salvage operations with the agreement of the owner shall be liable for any such damage or cost. Restriction of liability for oil pollution. 3A 1 Where, as a result of any occurrence— a any persistent oil is discharged or escapes from a ship to which section 1A of this Act applies, or b there arises a relevant threat of contamination, then, whether or not the owner of the ship in question incurs a liability under section 1A of this Act— i he shall not be liable otherwise than under that section for any such damage or cost as is mentioned in it, and ii no person to whom this paragraph applies shall be liable for any such damage or cost unless it resulted from anything done or omitted to be done by him either with intent by him to cause any such damage or cost or recklessly and in the knowledge that any such damage or cost would probably result. 2 Subsection (1)(ii) of this section applies to— a any servant or agent of the owner of the ship; b any person not falling within paragraph (a) above but employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship or to perform any service for the ship; c any charterer of the ship (however described and including a bareboat charterer), and any manager or operator of the ship; d any person performing salvage operations with the consent of the owner of the ship or on the instructions of a competent public authority; e any person taking any such measures as are mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or (2)(a) of section 1A of this Act; f any servant or agent of a person falling within paragraph (c), (d) or (e) above. 3 The liability of the owner of a ship under section 1A of this Act for any impairment of the environment shall be taken to be a liability only in respect of— a any resulting loss of profits, and b the cost of any reasonable measures of reinstatement actually taken or to be taken. Limitation actions. 5 1 Where the owner of a ship has or is alleged to have incurred a liability under section 1 of this Act he may apply to the court for the limitation of that liability to an amount determined in accordance with section 4 of this Act. 2 If on such an application the court finds that the applicant has incurred such a liability and is entitled to limit it, the court shall, after determining the limit of the liability and directing payment into court of the amount of that limit,— a determine the amounts that would, apart from the limit, be due in respect of the liability to the several persons making claims in the proceedings; and b direct the distribution of the amount paid into court (or, as the case may be, so much of it as does not exceed the liability) among those persons in proportion to their claims, subject to the following provisions of this section. 2A A payment into court of the amount of a limit determined in pursuance of this section shall be made in sterling; and— a for the purpose of converting such an amount from special drawing rights into sterling one special drawing right shall be treated as equal to such a sum in sterling as the International Monetary Fund have fixed as being the equivalent of one special drawing right for— i the day on which the determination is made, or ii if no sum has been so fixed for that day, the last day before that day for which a sum has been so fixed; b a certificate given by or on behalf of the Treasury stating— i that a particular sum in sterling has been so fixed for the day on which the determination was made, or ii that no sum has been so fixed for that day and that a particular sum in sterling has been so fixed for a day which is the last day for which a sum has been so fixed before the day on which the determination was made, shall be conclusive evidence of those matters for the purposes of this Act; c a document purporting to be such a certificate shall, in any proceedings, be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be such a certificate. 3 No claim shall be admitted in proceedings under this section unless it is made within such time as the court may direct or such further time as the court may allow. 4 Where any sum has been paid in or towards satisfaction of any claim in respect of the damage or cost to which the liability extends,— a by the owner or the person referred to in section 12 of this Act as “ the insurer ”; or b by a person who has or is alleged to have incurred a liability, otherwise than under section 1 of this Act, for the damage or cost and who is entitled to limit his liability in connection with the ship by virtue of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 ; the person who paid the sum shall, to the extent of that sum, be in the same position with respect to any distribution made in proceedings under this section as the person to whom it was paid would have been. 5 Where the person who incurred the liability has voluntarily made any reasonable sacrifice or taken any other reasonable measures to prevent or reduce damage to which the liability extends or might have extended he shall be in the same position with respect to any distribution made in proceedings under this section as if he had a claim in respect of the liability equal to the cost of the sacrifice or other measures. 6 The court may, if it thinks fit, postpone the distribution of such part of the amount to be distributed as it deems appropriate having regard to any claims that may later be established before a court of any country outside the United Kingdom. 7 No lien or other right in respect of any ship or other property shall affect the proportions in which any amount is distributed in accordance with subsection (2)(b) of this section. Restriction on enforcement of claims after establishment of limitation fund. 6 1 Where the court has found that a person who has incurred a liability under section 1 of this Act is entitled to limit that liability to any amount and he has paid into court a sum not less than that amount— a the court shall order the release of any ship or other property arrested in connection with a claim in respect of that liability or any security given to prevent or obtain release from such an arrest; and b no judgment or decree for any such claim shall be enforced, except so far as it is for costs (or, in Scotland, expenses); if the sum paid into court, or such part thereof as corresponds to the claim, will be actually available to the claimant or would have been available to him if the proper steps in the proceedings under section 5 of this Act had been taken. 2 In the application of this section to Scotland, any reference (however expressed) to release from arrest shall be construed as a reference to the recall of an arrestment. Concurrent liabilities of owners and others. 7 Where, as a result of any discharge or escape of persistent oil from a ship, the owner of the ship incurs a liability under section 1 of this Act and any other person incurs a liability, otherwise than under that section, for any such damage or cost as is mentioned in subsection (1) of that section, Where, as a result of any discharge or escape of oil from a ship or as a result of any relevant threat of contamination, the owner of a ship incurs a liability under section 1 of this Act and any other person incurs a liability, otherwise than under that section, for any such damage or cost as is mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) of that section, then, if— a the owner has been found, in proceedings under section 5 of this Act, to be entitled to limit his liability to any amount and has paid into court a sum not less than that amount; and b the other person is entitled to limit his liability in connection with the ship by virtue of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 ; no proceedings shall be taken against the other person in respect of his liability, and if any such proceedings were commenced before the owner paid the sum into court, no further steps shall be taken in the proceedings except in relation to costs. Establishment of limitation fund outside United Kingdom. 8 Where the events resulting in the liability of any person under section 1 of this Act also resulted in a corresponding liability under the law of another Convention country sections 6 and 7 of this Act shall apply as if the references to sections 1 and 5 of this Act included references to the corresponding provisions of that law and the references to sums paid into court included references to any sums secured under those provisions in respect of the liability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Extinguishment of claims. 9 No action to enforce a claim in respect of a liability incurred under section 1 or 1A of this Act shall be entertained by any court in the United Kingdom unless the action is commenced not later than three years after the claim arose nor later than six years after the occurrence or first of the occurrences resulting in the discharge or escape by reason of which the liability was incurred. Compulsory insurance against liability for pollution. 10 1 Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to Government ships, subsection (2) of this section shall apply to any ship carrying in bulk a cargo of more than 2,000 tons of persistent oil of a description specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State. 2 The ship shall not enter or leave a port in the United Kingdom or arrive at or leave a terminal in the territorial sea of the United Kingdom nor, if the ship is registered in the United Kingdom, a port in any other country or a terminal in the territorial sea of any other country, unless there is in force a certificate complying with the provisions of subsection (3) of this section and showing that there is in force in respect of the ship a contract of insurance or other security satisfying the requirements of Article VII of the Convention (cover for owner’s liability). 3 The certificate must be— a if the ship is registered in the United Kingdom, a certificate issued by the Secretary of State; b if the ship is registered in a Convention country other than the United Kingdom, a certificate issued by or under the authority of the government of the other Convention country; and c if the ship is registered in a country which is not a Convention country, a certificate issued by the Secretary of State or a certificate recognised for the purposes of this paragraph by regulations made under this section by or under the authority of the government of any Convention country other than the United Kingdom . 4 The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that certificates in respect of ships registered in any, or any specified, country which is not a Convention country shall, in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations, be recognised for the purposes of subsection (3)(c) of this section if issued by or under the authority of the government of the country designated in the regulations in that behalf; and the country that may be so designated may be either or both of the following, that is to say— a the country in which the ship is registered; and b any country specified in the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph. 5 Any certificate required by this section to be in force in respect of a ship shall be carried in the ship and shall, on demand, be produced by the master to any officer of customs or of the Department of the Secretary of State and, if the ship is registered in the United Kingdom, to any proper officer within the meaning of section 97(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1970. 6 If a ship enters or leaves, or attempts to enter or leave, a port or arrives at or leaves, or attempts to arrive at or leave, a terminal in contravention of subsection (2) of this section, the master or owner shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine, or on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50,000 . 7 If a ship fails to carry, or the master of a ship fails to produce, a certificate as required by subsection (5) of this section the master shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale . 8 If a ship attempts to leave a port in the United Kingdom in contravention of this section the ship may be detained. 9 Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. Issue of certificate by Secretary of State. 11 1 Subject to subsection (2) of this section, if the Secretary of State is satisfied, on an application for such a certificate as is mentioned in section 10 of this Act in respect of a ship registered in the United Kingdom or any country which is not a Convention country, that there will be in force in respect of the ship, throughout the period for which the certificate is to be issued, a contract of insurance or other security satisfying the requirements of Article VII of the Convention, the Secretary of State shall issue such a certificate to the owner. 2 If the Secretary of State is of opinion that there is a doubt whether the person providing the insurance or other security will be able to meet his obligations thereunder, or whether the insurance or other security will cover the owner’s liability under section 1 of this Act in all circumstances, he may refuse the certificate. 3 The Secretary of State may make regulations— a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . b providing for the cancellation and delivery up of such a certificate in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the regulations. 4 If a person required by regulations under subsection (3)(b) of this section to deliver up a certificate fails to do so he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale . 5 The Secretary of State shall send a copy of any certificate issued by him under this section in respect of a ship registered in the United Kingdom to the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, and the Registrar shall make the copy available for public inspection. 6 Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument, which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. Rights of third parties against insurers. 12 1 Where it is alleged that the owner of a ship has incurred a liability under section 1 of this Act as a result of any discharge or escape of oil occurring , or as a result of any relevant threat of contamination arising, while there was in force a contract of insurance or other security to which such a certificate as is mentioned in section 10 of this Act related, proceedings to enforce a claim in respect of the liability may be brought against the person who provided the insurance or other security (in the following provisions of this section referred to as “ the insurer ”). 2 In any proceedings brought against the insurer by virtue of this section it shall be a defence (in addition to any defence affecting the owner’s liability) to prove that the discharge or escape , or (as the case may be) the threat of contamination, was due to the wilful misconduct of the owner himself. 3 The insurer may limit his liability in respect of claims made against him by virtue of this section in like manner and to the same extent as the owner may limit his liability but the insurer may do so whether or not the discharge or escape occurred without the owner’s actual fault or privity , or (as the case may be) the threat of contamination, resulted from anything done or omitted to be done by the owner as mentioned in section 4(3) of this Act . 4 Where the owner and the insurer each apply to the court for the limitation of his liability any sum paid into court in pursuance of either application shall be treated as paid also in pursuance of the other. 5 The Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 1930 and the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1930 shall not apply in relation to any contract of insurance to which such a certificate as is mentioned in section 10 of this Act relates. Jurisdiction of United Kingdom courts and registration of foreign judgments. 13 1 Paragraph 1(1)( d ) of Schedule 1 to the Administration of Justice Act 1956 (Admiralty jurisdiction in claims for damage done by ships) shall be construed as extending to any claim in respect of a liability incurred under this Act, and the Admiralty jurisdiction of the Court of Session shall extend to any case arising out of any such claim. 2 Where any persistent oil is discharged or escapes from a ship but does not result in any damage caused by contamination in the area of the United Kingdom and no measures are reasonably taken to prevent or reduce such damage in that area, no court in the United Kingdom shall entertain an action (whether in rem or in personam) to enforce a claim arising from— a any damage caused in the area of another Convention country by contamination resulting from the discharge or escape; b any cost incurred in taking measures to prevent or reduce such damage in the area of another Convention country; or c any damage caused by any measures so taken. 2 Where— a any oil is discharged or escapes from a ship but does not result in any damage caused by contamination in the area of the United Kingdom and no measures are reasonably taken to prevent or minimise such damage in that area, or b any relevant threat of contamination arises but no measures are reasonably taken to prevent or minimise damage caused by contamination in the area of the United Kingdom resulting from a discharge or escape of oil from the ship, no court in the United Kingdom shall entertain any action (whether in rem or in personam) to enforce a claim arising from any relevant damage or cost— i against the owner of the ship, or ii against any person to whom section 3(1)(ii) of this Act applies, unless any such damage or cost resulted from anything done or omitted to be done as mentioned in that provision. 2A In subsection (2) of this section “ relevant damage or cost ” means— a in relation to any such discharge or escape as is mentioned in paragraph (a) of that subsection, any damage caused in the area of another Convention country by contamination resulting from the discharge or escape, or any cost incurred in taking measures to prevent or minimise such damage in the area of another Convention country; b in relation to any such threat of contamination as is mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection, any cost incurred in taking measures to prevent or minimise damage caused by contamination in the area of another Convention country resulting from a discharge or escape of oil from the ship; or c any damage caused by any measures taken as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above; and section 3(2)(e) of this Act shall have effect for the purposes of subsection (2)(ii) of this section as if it referred to any person taking any such measures as are mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above. 3 Part I of the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 shall apply, whether or not it would so apply apart from this section, to any judgment given by a court in a Convention country to enforce a claim in respect of a liability incurred under any provision corresponding to section 1 of this Act; and in its application to such a judgment that Part shall have effect with the omission of subsections (2) and (3) of section 4 of that Act. Government ships. 14 1 Nothing in the preceding provisions of this Act applies in relation to any warship or any ship for the time being used by the government of any State for other than commercial purposes. 2 In relation to a ship owned by a State and for the time being used for commercial purposes it shall be a sufficient compliance with subsection (2) of section 10 of this Act if there is in force a certificate issued by the government of that State and showing that the ship is owned by that State and that any liability for pollution damage as defined in Article I of the Convention will be met up to the limit prescribed by Article V of the Convention as amended by Article II of the protocol dated 19th November 1976 to the Convention Article V of the Convention . 3 Every Convention State shall, for the purposes of any proceedings brought in a court in the United Kingdom to enforce a claim in respect of a liability incurred under section 1 of this Act, be deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction of that court, and accordingly rules of court may provide for the manner in which such proceedings are to be commenced and carried on; but nothing in this subsection shall authorise the issue of execution, or in Scotland the execution of diligence, against the property of any State. Liability for cost of preventive measures where s. 1 does not apply. 15 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 For the purposes of section 17 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979 (limitation of liability) any liability incurred under section 1A of this Act shall be deemed to be a liability in respect of such damage to property as is mentioned in paragraph 1(a) of article 2 of the Convention in Part I of Schedule 4 to that Act. Saving for recourse actions. 16 Nothing in this Act shall prejudice any claim, or the enforcement of any claim, a person incurring any liability under this Act may have against another person in respect of that liability. Application to hovercraft. 17 The enactments and instruments with respect to which provision may be made by an Order in Council under section 1(1)(h) of the Hovercraft Act 1968 shall include this Act and any instrument made under it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Meaning of “the Convention,” “Convention country” and “Convention State.” 19 1 In this Act— “ the Convention ” means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage signed in Brussels in 1969; “ the Convention ”means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1984; “ Convention country ” means a country in respect of which the Convention is in force; and “ Convention State ” means a State which is a party to the Convention. 2 If Her Majesty by Order in Council declares that any State specified in the Order is a party to the Convention in respect of any country so specified the Order shall, while in force, be conclusive evidence that that State is a party to the Convention in respect of that country. Interpretation of other expressions. 20 1 In this Act— “ damage ” includes loss; “ owner ”, in relation to a registered ship, means the person registered as its owner, except that in relation to a ship owned by a State which is operated by a person registered as the ship’s operator, it means the person registered as its operator; “ the court ” means the High Court in England and Wales, the Court of Session or the High Court in Northern Ireland or a judge thereof. 2 In relation to any damage or cost resulting from the discharge or escape of any oil carried in a ship or from a relevant threat of contamination, references in this Act to the owner of the ship are references to the owner at the time of the occurrence or first of the occurrences resulting in the discharge or escape or (as the case may be) in the threat of contamination . 3 References in this Act to the area of any country include the territorial sea of that country. Citation, construction, commencement and extent. 21 1 This Act may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971, and this Act and the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1970 may be cited together as the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1971. 2 This Act shall be construed as one with the Merchant Shipping Acts 1894 to 1970. 3 This Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, and different days may be so appointed for different provisions of this Act. 4 This Act extends to Northern Ireland.