Maritime Law Maritime Environmental Law and Pollution 3

Question 1

The International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) applies primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Tankers carrying persistent oil as cargo in bulk

Answer

The Civil Liability Convention applies specifically to ships carrying persistent oil in bulk as cargo — i.e., tankers — not to all commercial vessels.

Question 2

Under OPA 90, who has the legal authority to bring natural resource damage (NRD) claims?

Accepted Answer

Designated federal, state, and tribal trustees acting on behalf of the public

Answer

Natural resource damage claims under OPA 90 can only be brought by designated federal, state, and tribal trustees who represent the public interest in injured natural resources.

Question 3

Under OPA 90, a responsible party may be completely relieved of liability if the spill was caused solely by:

Accepted Answer

An act of God, an act of war, or the act or omission of an unrelated third party

Answer

OPA 90 provides complete defenses to liability only where the discharge was caused solely by an act of God, an act of war, or the act or omission of a third party with no contractual relationship to the responsible party.

Question 4

The IMO Ballast Water Management Convention primarily aims to prevent:

Accepted Answer

Introduction of invasive aquatic species into new marine environments

Answer

The BWM Convention requires ships to manage their ballast water to prevent the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic organisms from one marine region to another when ballast water is discharged.

Question 5

The IMO Ballast Water Management Convention entered into force in which year?

Accepted Answer

2017

Answer

The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments was adopted in 2004 but did not enter into force until September 8, 2017, after gaining sufficient ratifications.

Maritime Law Practice Test

Maritime Law Practice Test

Maritime Law Maritime Environmental Law and Pollution 3