International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001

Document type: Multilateral
Field of application: Global
Date: Mar 23, 2001
Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001377)

Title abbreviation: BUNKERS 2001
Title (French): Convention internationale sur la responsabilité civile pour dommages de pollution par hydrocarbures, 2001
Title (Spanish): Convenio Internacional sobre responsabilidad civil por daños debidos a contaminación por hidrocarburos, 2001
Title (Other): Internationales Übereinkommen von 2001 für die zivilrechtliche Haftung über Bunkerölverschmutzungsschäden
Place of adoption: London
Depository: IMO International Maritime Organization
Language: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Entry into force: Nov 21, 2008
Subject: Sea
Keyword: Jurisdictional competence Enforcement/compliance Registration Certification Marine pollution Liability/compensation Oil pollution Vessel ownership

Abstract: Objectives: To adopt uniform international rules and procedures for determining questions of liability and providing adequate, prompt and effective compensation in cases of damage caused by pollution resulting from the escape or discharge of bunker oil from ships. Summary of provisions: The Convention was adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and is to apply exclusively to pollution damage in areas defined in art. 2 and to preventive measures, wherever taken, to prevent or minimise such damage. The shipowner is liable for pollution damage caused by any bunker oil on board or originating from the ship (art. 3), but may be exonerated wholly or partially from such liability if certain conditions are met. Registered owners of ships having a gross tonnage greater than 1000 registered in a State Party are to be required to maintain insurance or other financial security to cover their liability for pollution damage (art. 7). Parties undertake to ensure that their courts have jurisdiction to entertain actions for compensation (art. 9). Other articles provide for incidents involving two or more ships (art. 5), time limit of the right to compensation (art. 8), limitation of liability (art. 6), exclusion from application of the Convention (art. 4), and recognition and enforcement of judgements (art. 10).
Full text: English Spanish
Website: www.imo.org

Country/Territory/Participant

Countries	Entry into force	Ratification *	Simple signature
Albania	Jul 30, 2010	Apr 30, 2010 [2]	-
Antigua and Barbuda	Mar 19, 2009	Dec 19, 2008 [2]	-
Australia	Jun 16, 2009	Mar 16, 2009 [1]	Sep 23, 2002
Austria	Apr 30, 2013	Jan 30, 2013 [2]	-
Azerbaijan	Sep 22, 2010	Jun 22, 2010 [2]	-
Bahamas	Nov 21, 2008	Jan 30, 2008 [2]	-
Bahrain	Nov 14, 2017	Aug 14, 2017 [2]	-
Barbados	Jan 15, 2010	Oct 15, 2009 [2]	-
Belarus	Dec 5, 2019	Sep 5, 2019 [2]	-
Belgium	Nov 11, 2009	Aug 11, 2009 [2]	-
Belize	Nov 22, 2011	Aug 22, 2011 [2]	-
Brazil	-	-	Oct 1, 2001
Bulgaria	Nov 21, 2008	Jul 6, 2007 [2]	-
Canada	Jan 2, 2010	Oct 2, 2009 [2]	Sep 27, 2002
China	Mar 9, 2009	Dec 9, 2008 [2]	-
Comoros	May 1, 2018	Feb 1, 2018 [2]	-
Congo	Aug 19, 2014	May 19, 2014 [2]	-
Cook Islands (New Zealand)	Nov 21, 2008	Aug 21, 2008 [2]	-
Croatia	Nov 21, 2008	Dec 15, 2006 [2]	-
Cyprus	Nov 21, 2008	Jan 10, 2005 [2]	-
Czech Republic	Mar 20, 2013	Dec 20, 2012 [2]	-
Côte d'Ivoire	Oct 8, 2013	Jul 8, 2013 [2]	-
Denmark	Nov 21, 2008	Jul 23, 2008 [1]	Sep 27, 2002
Djibouti	Jan 12, 2016	Oct 12, 2015 [2]	-
Egypt	May 15, 2010	Feb 15, 2010 [2]	-
Estonia	Nov 21, 2008	Oct 5, 2006 [2]	-
Ethiopia	May 17, 2009	Feb 17, 2009 [2]	-
Fiji	Jun 8, 2016	Mar 8, 2016 [2]	-
Finland	Feb 18, 2009	Nov 18, 2008 [3]	Sep 26, 2002
France	Jan 19, 2011	Oct 19, 2010 [2]	-
Gabon	Jul 17, 2019	Apr 17, 2019 [2]	-
Georgia	Dec 13, 2018	Sep 13, 2018 [2]	-
Germany	Nov 21, 2008	Apr 24, 2007 [1]	Sep 27, 2002
Greece	Nov 21, 2008	Dec 22, 2005 [2]	-
Grenada	Oct 26, 2018	Jul 26, 2018 [2]	-
Guyana	May 20, 2019	Feb 20, 2019 [2]	-
Hungary	Nov 21, 2008	Jan 30, 2008 [2]	-
Indonesia	Dec 11, 2014	Sep 11, 2014 [2]	-
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Feb 21, 2012	Nov 21, 2011 [2]	-
Ireland	Mar 23, 2009	Dec 23, 2008 [2]	-
Italy	Feb 18, 2010	Nov 18, 2010 [1]	Oct 9, 2001
Jamaica	Nov 21, 2008	May 2, 2003 [2]	-
Japan	Oct 1, 2020	Jul 1, 2020 [2]	-
Jordan	Jun 24, 2010	Mar 24, 2010 [2]	-
Kenya	Oct 7, 2015	Jul 7, 2015 [2]	-
Kiribati	Oct 29, 2009	Jul 29, 2009 [2]	-
Korea, Dem. People's Rep.	Oct 17, 2009	Jul 17, 2009 [2]	-
Korea, Republic of	Nov 28, 2009	Aug 28, 2009 [2]	-
Latvia	Nov 21, 2008	Apr 19, 2005 [2]	-
Lebanon	Jul 6, 2017	Apr 5, 2017 [2]	-
Liberia	Nov 21, 2008	Aug 21, 2008 [2]	-
Lithuania	Nov 21, 2008	Sep 14, 2007 [2]	-
Luxembourg	Nov 21, 2008	Nov 21, 2005 [2]	-
Madagascar	Oct 11, 2017	Jul 11, 2017 [2]	-
Malaysia	Feb 12, 2009	Nov 12, 2008 [2]	-
Malta	Feb 12, 2009	Nov 12, 2008 [2]	-
Marshall Islands	Nov 21, 2008	May 9, 2008 [2]	-
Mauritius	Oct 17, 2013	Jul 17, 2013 [2]	-
Mongolia	Dec 28, 2011	Sep 28, 2011 [2]	-
Montenegro	Feb 29, 2012	Nov 29, 2011 [2]	-
Morocco	Jul 14, 2010	Apr 14, 2010 [2]	-
Myanmar	Apr 19, 2018	Jan 19, 2018 [2]	-
Namibia	Oct 15, 2020	Jul 15, 2020 [2]	-
Nauru	Jun 23, 2020	Mar 23, 2020 [2]	-
Netherlands	Mar 23, 2011	Dec 23, 2010 [2]	-
New Zealand	Jul 4, 2014	Apr 4, 2014 [2]	-
Nicaragua	Jul 3, 2014	Apr 3, 2014 [2]	-
Nigeria	Jan 1, 2011	Oct 1, 2010 [2]	-
Niue (New Zealand)	Aug 18, 2012	May 18, 2012 [2]	-
Norway	Nov 21, 2008	Mar 26, 2008 [1]	Sep 26, 2002
Oman	Jul 30, 2020	Apr 30, 2020 [2]	-
Palau	Dec 28, 2011	Sep 28, 2011 [2]	-
Panama	May 17, 2009	Feb 17, 2009 [2]	-
Poland	Nov 21, 2008	Dec 15, 2006 [2]	-
Portugal	Oct 21, 2015	Jul 21, 2015 [2]	-
Romania	Sep 15, 2009	Jun 15, 2009 [2]	-
Russian Federation	May 24, 2009	Feb 24, 2009 [2]	-
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Jan 21, 2010	Oct 21, 2009 [2]	-
Saint Lucia	Aug 26, 2016	May 26, 2016 [2]	-
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Feb 26, 2009	Nov 26, 2008 [2]	-
Samoa	Nov 21, 2008	May 18, 2004 [2]	-
Saudi Arabia	Jan 29, 2019	Oct 29, 2018 [2]	-
Serbia	Oct 8, 2010	Jul 8, 2010 [2]	-
Seychelles	Nov 23, 2019	Aug 23, 2019 [2]	-
Sierra Leone	Nov 21, 2008	Nov 21, 2007 [2]	-
Singapore	Nov 21, 2008	Mar 31, 2006 [2]	-
Slovakia	Aug 1, 2013	May 1, 2013 [2]	-
Slovenia	Nov 21, 2008	May 20, 2004 [2]	-
Solomon Islands	Jan 15, 2021	Oct 15, 2020 [2]	-
Spain	Nov 21, 2008	Dec 10, 2003 [1]	Sep 27, 2002
Sweden	Sep 3, 2013	Jun 3, 2013 [1]	Sep 30, 2002
Switzerland	Dec 24, 2013	Sep 24, 2013 [2]	-
Syrian Arab Republic	Jul 24, 2009	Apr 24, 2009 [2]	-
Togo	Jul 23, 2012	Apr 23, 2012 [2]	-
Tonga	Nov 21, 2008	Sep 18, 2003 [2]	-
Tunisia	Dec 5, 2011	Sep 5, 2011 [2]	-
Turkey	Dec 12, 2013	Sep 12, 2013 [2]	-
Tuvalu	Apr 12, 2009	Jan 12, 2009 [2]	-
United Kingdom	Nov 21, 2008	Jun 29, 2006 [1]	Sep 26, 2002
Vanuatu	Nov 21, 2008	Aug 20, 2008 [2]	-
Viet Nam	Sep 18, 2010	Jun 18, 2010 [2]	-

* [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature

References - Treaties

Cites: Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976

Treaty | Multilateral | London | May 2, 1996

Keyword: Transport/storage, Law reform/harmonization/deregulation, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Special fund, Navigation, Jurisdictional competence, Liability/compensation, Maritime zone

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001248); International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996

Treaty | Multilateral | London | May 3, 1996

Keyword: Transport/storage, Data collection/reporting, Vessel ownership, Radioactive waste, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Resource/damage valuation, Special fund, Oil, Hazardous waste, Enforcement/compliance, Liability/compensation, Jurisdictional competence, Hazardous substances

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001245); International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage

Treaty | Multilateral | Brussels | Nov 29, 1969

Keyword: Navigation, Liability/compensation, Oil pollution, Polluter pays principle, Transport/storage

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000120); Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971

Treaty | Multilateral | London | Nov 27, 1992

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001176); Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims

Treaty | Multilateral | London | Nov 19, 1976

Keyword: Maritime zone, Liability/compensation, Law reform/harmonization/deregulation, Navigation, Special fund, Jurisdictional competence, Transport/storage

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000117); Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969

Treaty | Multilateral | London | Nov 27, 1992

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001177); United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Treaty | Multilateral | Montego Bay | Dec 10, 1982

Keyword: Alien species, Inspection, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Management/conservation, Deep sea bed, Islands, Bycatch, Offences/penalties, Enforcement/compliance, Risk assessment/management, Fishing licence fee, Authorization/permit, Fishery management and conservation, Total allowable catch, Marine fisheries, Liability/compensation, Pollution control, Future generations, Marine pollution, Dispute settlement, Monitoring, Stock enhancement/repopulation, Maritime zone, Policy/planning, Marine pollution (dumping at sea), Size, Contract/agreement, Access right, Education, Data collection/reporting, Research, EIA, International organization, Long-range air pollution, Marine mammals, Mining, Business/industry/corporations, High seas, Sovereignty, Marine pollution (land-based sources), Migratory species, Vessel ownership, Court/tribunal, Marine resources management, Jurisdictional competence, Fishing licence, Harbour, Early warning system/emergency intervention system, Fishing gear/fishing method, Navigation, Registration, Continental shelf, Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Exploration, Seasons, International relations/cooperation, Technology transfer, EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone, Sustainable use

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000753)

Cited by: Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks

Treaty | Multilateral | Nairobi | May 18, 2007

Keyword: Oil pollution, High seas, Wild fauna, Marine area, Marine fisheries, Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Wild flora, Hazardous substances, Marine pollution, Navigation

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-160031)

Other references

Literature: 1 record related to this treaty. View literature