VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND VESSEL SOURCE POLLUTION IN THE STRAIT OF DOVER (EUROPE).

摘要

The Strait of Dover is one of the most important maritime passages in the world. Having played a crucial role in the course of world history, it served as a testing ground for many of the principles of modern ocean law and current commercial maritme practice.; The Strait of Dover continues to play this pioneering role. Generally considered the busiest shipping area in the world, the strait is particularly vulnerable to vessel accidents and vessel pollution. It was here that the first traffic separation system went into effect, while its littoral states were the driving forces behind regulations to control pollution from vessels, provisions which have now become incorporated in international treaty law.; Despite the many regulations to control vessel safety and vessel source pollution, it is widely recognized that current enforcement procedures are far from effective. Strong forces are at work in the countries surrounding the Strait of Dover and its approaches to transfer enforcement powers from the flag state to the port state. This development reconfirms the Strait of Dover's important role in the formation of international law affecting current maritime practice, and could set a strong and workable precedent to improve the records of vessel safety and vessel source pollution prevention throughout the world.; The study reviews the legal regime of the Strait of Dover and its approaches; the existing national, regional and international provisions relating to the control of its intense traffic flow and severe problems of pollution; and the emerging regime to improve on these provisions under expanded port state control, provided for by the 1982 U.N. Law of the Sea Convention and various regional agreements.