On The Legal System For Oil Pollution Damage By The Ships Engaged In Coastal Transportation

The damage (loss) caused by oil pollution from a ship is always very serious. However, in China, there is no systematic legal norm to regulate the civil liabilities for compensation for oil pollution damage by the ships engaged in coastal transportation.In this paper, the author has analyzed and discussed the characteristics of the legal system for oil pollution damage by the ships engaged in coastal transportation. Also have been discussed in this paper the issue on whether the international legal system for oil pollution by ships can be applied to the oil pollution damage caused by the ships engaged in coastal transportation and the advanced legislative experience of the U.S. and Canada in the legal system for oil pollution damage by the ships engaged in coastal transportation. By taking into consideration the above and the current legal system in this field in China, the author has studied the legal system for oil pollution damage by the ships engaged in coastal transportation. From these, the author has put forward his own suggestion to improve the legal system for oil pollution damage by the shipsengaged in coastal transportation from the following aspects------limitation of liability,compulsory insurance and establishing a supplementing oil pollution compensation fund, and has made legislative proposals in this field, hoping these to be helpful to the legislative body and the government policy-making body, then more effectively protecting the ocean environment that is yet to be exploited.