French Decree Requires Ship Owners to Carry Insurance to Cover Liability for Fuel Spills

摘要

France April 22 published a decree (No. 2011-435) that writes into national law the requirements of a 2001 international treaty that introduced strict liability for pollution damages caused by ship bunker fuel spills at sea. The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage requires registered owners of vessels of more than 1,000 gross tonnage to maintain insurance or other financial security, such as a guarantee from a bank or similar financial institution, to cover liability for bunker fuel spills.