Act on the Protection of the Marine Environment in Greenland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (No. 1534 of 2017).

The present Danish Act establishes a legal framework to safeguard nature and the marine environment in the area up to 200 nautical miles from Greenland’s baseline. The law aims to prevent and limit pollution from ships, aircraft, and offshore activities, covering oil, chemicals, ballast water, sewage, waste, dumping, and air emissions. It ensures the use of the least polluting technology, sets strict rules on discharges and waste disposal, and provides for contingency measures against oil and chemical spills. Special provisions apply to activities in ice-covered or specially designated sea areas, with the Minister for Environment and Food authorized to issue further detailed regulations.
The Act also outlines enforcement, reporting, and liability mechanisms. It empowers Danish and Greenlandic authorities, including the Ministry of Defence, to monitor, inspect, and if necessary, detain vessels suspected of violations. Costs of cleanup and preventive measures fall on shipowners or aircraft operators, and violations may result in fines or other sanctions, with stricter penalties for intentional or grossly negligent breaches causing environmental harm. The law incorporates international obligations, aligns with maritime conventions, and provides exemptions only in emergencies related to human safety or ship security.