Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act, 1976 (Cap. 275).

This Act concerns oil pollution in waters of the Bahamas and by ships of The Bahamas in other waters. It gives effect to provisions of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969. The Act consists of 59 sections divided into 8 Parts: Preliminary (I); Prevention of oil pollution (II); Shipping casualties (III); Civil liability (IV); The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (V); Oil tankers (VI); Enforcement (VII); Supplemental (VIII).
Discharge of oil into seas outside Bahamian waters by ships registered in the Bahamas is declared an offence under section 4, whereas section 5 concerns oil pollution of Bahamian waters. The Minister may make Regulations for the purpose of prescribing equipment for the reduction of oil pollution to be installed on ships of the Bahamas (sec.7). Section 13 places restrictions on the transfer of oil at night. Section 30 concerns compulsory insurance against liability resulting from oil pollution and certification of such insurance. Section 31 empowers the Minister to issue rules regarding the construction of oil tankers. Section 48 empowers the Director of Maritime Affairs to place restrictions on uncertified tankers. Section 49 concerns oil record books to be present on Bahamian ships. Section 53 concerns enforcement of provisions of International Conventions by Bahamian officials.