Shipowners Face New Fines Amid Surge in Vessel Oil Spills 船舶漏油事件频发，船东再度面临罚款！

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On August 27, 2024, a Togolese-flagged cargo ship grounded near Tainan, Taiwan, due to Typhoon Gaemi. Wu Yuling, a specialist at the Maritime Port Bureau, reported that the shipowner has previously faced fines totaling NT$200,000 (around USD 3,135) for oil leakage on two separate occasions. The shipowner may currently face a third fine as the vessel was leaking oil. The port authority has set up an oil containment boom on site to monitor the situation and warned the shipowner that a third fine may be incurred if no further measures are taken.  
2024年8月27日，一艘多哥籍货轮因台风“盖米”（Typhoon Gaemi）在台湾台南沿岸搁浅，因船体漏油，该货轮船东可能面临第三次罚款。海事港务局专家吴玉玲表示，该货轮船东此前已因漏油问题被罚款两次，两次分别赔付10万元新台币（约3,135美元）。为应对漏油情况，港务局已在现场部署油污围栏以监控漏油情况，并警告船东如不采取后续措施，可能面临第三次罚款。  

Wu Yuling noted that the oil pump operations have been completed and that the leakage was caused by the seawater erosion of the hull. The two or three leaking spots on the hull have been plugged. The shipowner is expected to submit a hull demotion plan next week, which will be reviewed by the Bureau. If the shipowner does not take follow-up action as expected, the Bureau will impose further fines and commence the dismantling process.  
吴玉玲表示，船上的油泵作业已完成，漏油系因海水侵蚀船体造成。经过检查，船体上有两三处漏油的地方，现已进行封堵。船东表示将在下周提交船体拆解计划，港务局将会对该拆解计划进行审查。如船东未按承诺提交报告，港务局将另行罚款并启动拆船程序。  

Oil spills from ships are becoming a regular occurrence. On August 20, a container ship at Hong Kong's Kwai Chung Container Terminal suffered a fuel leak while being refueled. The spill was caused by a flange at the refueling station that had not been properly secured. Between July 25 and 31, three tankers capsized in the Bataan of the Philippines due to Typhoon Carina, resulting in significant pollution of Manila Bay. Moreover, in August 2006, a Filipino tanker sank near Guimaras Island following heavy weather, spilling almost 2,000 tons of industrial fuel.  
此次漏油事件并非个例。8月20日晚，香港葵涌集装箱码头某集装箱船在码头进行燃油加注作业时燃油泄漏，事故原因系加注站法兰未拧紧，导致了这起燃油泄露事故。7月25日到31日期间，受到台风“卡里纳”（Typhoon Carina）影响，三艘油轮在菲律宾巴丹海域倾覆，严重污染了马尼拉湾脆弱的海洋生态环境。早在2006年8月，菲律宾籍油轮因受暴风雨侵袭，在吉马拉斯岛附近沉没，泄漏出近2000吨工业燃油，酿成全国性灾难。  

In light of the recurring marine oil pollution incidents, international and national authorities are increasingly turning to legislation and conventions to bolster prevention and penalties. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the most extensive global agreement aimed at preventing ship pollution, imposes legal responsibilities on shipowners and operators for oil pollution. In the event of an oil spill, shipowners and operators shall cover environmental cleanup costs and compensation, with fines based on the severity of the spill and its environmental effects.  
面对频发的海洋油污事件，国际社会和各国政府纷纷通过立法和公约来加强对油污污染的预防和处罚。《国际防止船舶造成污染公约》（MARPOL）作为全球最全面的防止船舶污染的国际公约，规定船东和船舶运营人对油污污染负有法律责任，一旦船舶出现漏油，相关方可能会面临重罚。违反该公约的船舶所有人或船舶运营人需要支付环境修复费用和赔偿金，罚款金额依据泄漏规模和其对环境的影响而定。  

The International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage (Fund) aim to ensure that adequate compensation is available to victims of oil pollution. Under the CLC, shipowners are subject to strict liability for damages arising from oil spills irrespective of negligence. The Fund’s supplementary compensation is available when the CLC compensation limits are insufficient for covering the damages to affected parties.  
《国际油污损害民事责任公约》和《国际油污损害赔偿基金国际公约》确保油污事件发生后，受害者能够获得足够的赔偿。《国际油污损害民事责任公约》规定了船东在油污事件中的严格责任，即使船东没有过错，也要对油污事件承担责任，而《国际油污损害赔偿基金公约》设立的赔偿基金则用于在船东赔偿限额不足时提供额外赔偿。  

The stringent penalties and liability mechanisms for oil pollution worldwide reflect a global consensus on the necessity of protecting the marine environment and ensuring the health and sustainability of marine ecosystems. Under national laws and international agreements, shipowners and operators should implement proactive prevention strategies and comply with rigorous safety and environmental standards to avoid oil pollution incidents. Moreover, in the event of an oil spill, all involved parties are obligated to undertake effective cleanup and remediation efforts to minimize harm to the marine environment.  
全球对油污污染的严格处罚和责任追究机制表明，保护海洋环境、确保海洋生物的健康和可持续发展已成为全球共识。在各国立法和国际公约的约束下，船东和船舶运营人须采取积极的预防措施，遵循严格的安全和环境保护标准，防止油污污染事故的发生。同时，一旦漏油事故发生，各方须迅速采取有力行动，进行清理和补救，减少对海洋环境的损害。