Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act 1979.

This Act provides for giving effect in Papua New Guinea of: (a) the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, 1954, as amended in 1962, 1969 and 1971; and (b) the International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969 and the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Marine Pollution by Substances other than Oil. 1973; and (c) the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 and the Protocol to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 (1976); and (d) the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 and the Protocol to the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 (1976).
The Act declares the Conventions to be law in Papua New Guinea, subject to this Act and to any other Law; and provides for various matters so as to implement rules of the Conventions as law in Papua New Guinea. The rules concern the discharge of oil from ships, the carrying of oil record books on board of ships flying the flag of Papua New Guinea, discharges permitted from ships other than tankers and from tankers, equipment requirements for ships, issuing of tanker construction certificates, restriction on transfers of oil at night, oil reception facilities, discharges of marine pollutants, investigations, certificates of insurance, casualties, jurisdiction, enforcement and prescribe offences and penalties.