Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Compensation Limits) Order 2003 (S.I. No. 2559 of 2003).

The International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1969 provides uniform rules and procedures for determining questions of liability and for awarding compensation when damage is caused by pollution resulting from the escape of oil from ships. The International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage 1971 set up an international fund to provide a supplementary system for compensation and indemnification for such damage. The 1992 Protocol to the CLC and the 1992 Protocol to the Fund Convention respectively create a new 1992 Civil Liability Convention and a 1992 Fund Convention, which together provide for higher levels of compensation and more extensive liability. The 1992 Protocols are given effect in the United Kingdom by Chapters III and IV of Part VI of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. This Order amends section 157(2)(a) and (b) of, and Part I of Schedule 5 to, the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 to give effect to two resolutions adopted at the 82nd session of the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization. The Merchant Shipping Act 1995 enables the Secretary of State to give effect to any amendments made to the limits of liability under Article V(1) of the 1992 Civil Liability Convention and Article 4(4) of the 1992 Fund Convention respectively.