已生效的新联邦法律将油污严格责任扩大至租家并增加罚款40倍。
《1983年海洋保护法（防止船舶污染）》近期的修正案将目前承担油或油性混合物泄漏至海洋中的严格责任的范围，从船长、船东扩大到租家。现行普通法下，这一严格责任将很可能扩大到光租、期租及程租的租家身上。
将严格责任扩大到租家身上，背离了澳大利亚现行法律的明确规定。之前的澳大利亚法律与许多相似司法辖区保持一致，规定如果油或油性混合物从船上泄漏至海洋中，船东和船长承担严格责任。该行为属于刑事犯罪，无论船东或船长是否有实际过错都需要承担责任。
我们认为，上述规定力图通过将责任强加于那些与引起漏油的行为或事件有实际和相关联系的人身上，以此起到威慑的作用。
目前，我们还没有发现任何其他州和地区有制定类似法案的意图。现在，针对租家的新条款仅适用于澳大利亚海岸线外3海里的联邦水域中发生的油污事件。
修正案还加大了油污罚款，对公司的罚款从275,000澳元增加到1100万澳元。尽管此次罚款增加乍看是比较苛刻的，但值得注意的是这次增加的罚款使联邦水域漏油罚款数额与适用于大多数州的水域漏油罚款保持一致。
结论
在该修正案之前，澳大利亚法律规定，船长和船东对漏油负有责任，无论他们是否有过错。澳大利亚法律进一步规定，涉及操作或维护船舶的任何船员或者其他人员，以及其行为引起泄漏的人，都对此负有责任。
该修正案把租家列入承担油污责任的范围之中，而无论其是否有过错。修正案似乎并不符合对MARPOL公约目的的适当考虑或者总体威慑性考虑。因为事实上，在大多数情况下，租家对可能导致油污的操作和行为的控制力很小。
因此，租家面临的油污责任在一夜之间从0澳元增加到了1100万澳元。在澳大利亚水域运营船舶的所有租家，必须重新检查他们的保险安排和风险管理实践，包括为所租的船舶筛选船东、营运人和船员代理公司；考虑起草附加租约条款以应对这一新规定。
以上由 ANDREW LIU & CO.,LTD 编译，应以英文为准！
详细信息请参阅附件。
Oil Pollution in Australia – Charterers Now Strictly Liable; Penalties Increased
New Commonwealth laws have come into effect which extend strict liability for oil pollution to Charterers and increase penalties fortyfold.
Recent amendments to the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 (Cth) ( “the Act” ) extend the present strict liability offence for the discharge of oil or an oily mixture from a ship into the sea from the Master and Owner of a ship to the Charterer of a ship. Under current common law, this will most likely extend to bareboat, time and voyage charterers.
The extension of strict liability to the Charterer of a ship represents a novel departure from the existing and well settled law in Australia. Previously and in conformity with the position in many similar jurisdictions, Australian law provided for strict liability of the Master and Owner in the event of a discharge of oil or oily mixture from a ship. The offence is a criminal offence and will be found regardless of any actual fault on the part of the Master or Owner.
In our view, the above provisions are more appropriately directed at deterrence, by seeking to impose liability on those who have some real and relevant connection with the act or event which causes a discharge of oil.
At present, we are not aware of the intention of any of the States or Territories to make similar amendments. For now, the new offence for Charterers will only apply to oil pollution incidents occurring in Commonwealth waters outside of 3 Nm from Australia’s coastline.
The amendments also increase the penalties for oil pollution, from A$275,000 to A$11 million for a corporation. Although the increase at first appears rather severe, it should be noted that the increase now brings the penalties for the discharge of oil in Commonwealth waters into line with those applicable to the discharge of oil in the waters of most States.
Conclusion
Prior to the amendments, Australian law provided that the Master and Owner of a ship were liable for the discharge of oil, regardless of any fault on their part. Australian law further provided that any crew member or other person involved in the operation or maintenance of a ship and whose act caused a discharge was also liable. It is therefore essential that all Charterers operating in Australian waters review their insurance arrangements; risk management practices, including screening of Owners, operators and manning agents responsible for chartered vessels; and consider drafting additional charterparty clauses to deal with this new exposure.
See attached file : Oil Pollution in Australia.pdf
