Two oil tankers capsize at the same time, killing one seafarer! 突发！两油轮同一时间倾覆，一船员遇难！

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On December 15th, a Soviet-era product tanker has gone down in the Russian-controlled Kerch Strait, spilling fuel and leaving one seafarer dead.

12月15日，一艘苏联时代的成品油轮在俄罗斯控制的刻赤海峡不幸沉没，造成一名海员遇难，并引发燃油泄漏。

The aging river-sea tanker sank in a wintertime storm Sunday about five nautical miles outside of the Kerch Strait.

这艘江海两用油轮在一场突如其来的冬季风暴中遭遇不幸，沉没地点距离海峡外约五海里。

Waves in excess of 25 feet were forecast by Russia's meteorological agency. 

据俄罗斯气象机构预测，当天风暴中的海浪高度可能超过25英尺。

A video taken by a crewmember shows that the aging vessel broke up in the storm, and the bow could be seen floating away from the bridge deck.

一段由船员拍摄的视频记录了这艘油轮在风暴中的最后时刻，船首部分从船桥甲板上分离并漂浮而去。

There were 15 people on board, one of whom has been confirmed dead, 12 were rescued, and 2 seafarers are still missing, with two of the survivors severely injured.

船上共有15名船员，其中一人已确认死亡，12人获救，仍有2名海员失踪，其中两名幸存者伤势严重。

The tanker was carrying about 4,300 tonnes of mazut. The amount of pollution is not known, but a breakup would release a substantial quantity of petroleum at once from at least one cargo tank and several fuel tanks.

该油轮载有约4300吨燃油，目前尚不清楚污染的具体量，但油轮的解体至少从一个货油舱和几个燃料舱中一次性释放出大量燃油。

Russian authorities are investigating the incident as a possible criminal safety violation.

俄罗斯政府正在对此次事件进行调查，以确定是否存在违反安全规定的犯罪行为。

At the same time, another oil tanker from the same operator ran aground near Taman. Although initial reports indicated that the ship was sinking, it remained afloat, and the crew determined there was no danger, so the rescue department decided to keep all the crew members on board until the weather improved.

A second tanker from the same operator's fleet ran aground just off Taman at about the same time as the sinking of the former. The grounded ship was located close to shore, and though initial reports suggested it was sinking, it remained afloat. Conditions on scene were poor and the crew were determined to be in no danger, so SAR authorities opted to leave all crewmembers aboard the ship until the weather improved.

与此同时，同一运营商的另一艘油轮也在大约同一时间在塔曼附近搁浅。尽管最初的报告显示该船正在下沉，但它仍然漂浮着，船员们确定没有危险，因此搜救部门决定让所有船员留在船上，直到天气好转。

Oil tanker leaks can be caused by various reasons, including operational errors, equipment failures, or natural disasters. However, when the leak is caused by the intentional acts or gross negligence of the vessel's owner or operator, it involves criminal liability.

油轮泄漏可能由多种原因引起，包括操作失误、设备故障或自然灾害。然而，当泄漏是由于船舶所有人或操作者的故意行为或重大过失造成时，这就涉及到了刑事责任的问题。

Criminal Liability for Ship Oil Spills

船舶泄漏污染的刑事责任

Regarding the criminal liability for ship oil pollution, the following are the main contents involved in the Maritime Law of the People's Republic of China and related judicial interpretations:

关于船舶泄漏污染的刑事责任，以下是《中华人民共和国海商法》及相关司法解释中涉及的主要内容：

Liability for intentional or reckless acts: If the oil pollution damage is caused by the intentional acts or omissions of the ship owner, knowing that such damage may occur, the ship owner's claim for limitation of compensation liability shall not be supported by the People's Court.

故意或轻率行为的责任：如果油污损害是由于船舶所有人的故意或者明知可能造成此种损害而轻率地作为或者不作为造成的，船舶所有人主张限制赔偿责任，人民法院不予支持。

Intentional oil pollution damage: If the oil pollution damage is caused intentionally by the ship owner, the person suffering the damage requests compensation from the ship oil pollution liability insurer or financial guarantor, the People's Court shall not support it.

故意造成的油污损害：如果油污损害是由于船舶所有人故意造成的，受损害人请求船舶油污损害责任保险人或者财务保证人赔偿，人民法院不予支持。

Joint liability: If two or more ships leak oil and cause oil pollution damage, the person suffering the damage requests each leaking ship owner to bear compensation responsibility. According to the amount of leaked oil and the environmental harm of the leaked oil, if the damage caused by each can be reasonably separated, each leaking ship owner shall bear responsibility separately; if the damage cannot be reasonably separated, each leaking ship owner shall bear joint liability.

连带责任：两艘或者两艘以上船舶泄漏油类造成油污损害，受损害人请求各泄漏油船舶所有人承担赔偿责任，按照泄漏油数量及泄漏油类对环境的危害性等因素能够合理分开各自造成的损害，由各泄漏油船舶所有人分别承担责任；不能合理分开各自造成的损害，各泄漏油船舶所有人承担连带责任。

Mutual fault collision causing oil leakage: If mutual fault collision causes oil leakage and oil pollution damage, the person suffering the damage may request the leaking ship owner to bear full compensation responsibility.

船舶互有过失碰撞引起油类泄漏：船舶互有过失碰撞引起油类泄漏造成油污损害的，受损害人可以请求泄漏油船舶所有人承担全部赔偿责任。

Compensation limit: If the oil tanker carries persistent oil causing oil pollution damage, the compensation limit shall be determined in accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Preventing Pollution of the Marine Environment by Ships and the 1992 International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage. If the oil tanker carries non-persistent fuel oil or fuel oil not carried by the oil tanker causing oil pollution damage, the compensation limit shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Maritime Law on the limitation of maritime liability.

赔偿限额：油轮装载的持久性油类造成油污损害的，应依照《防治船舶污染海洋环境管理条例》《1992年国际油污损害民事责任公约》的规定确定赔偿限额。油轮装载的非持久性燃油或者非油轮装载的燃油造成油污损害的，应依照海商法关于海事赔偿责任限制的规定确定赔偿限额。

Right of recourse: If each leaking ship owner bears joint liability to the person suffering the damage, they shall determine the corresponding compensation amount according to the size of their respective responsibilities; if it is difficult to determine the size of the responsibility, they shall bear the compensation responsibility equally. If the leaking ship owner pays more than their own compensation amount, they have the right to recourse against other leaking ship owners.

追偿权：各泄漏油船舶所有人对受损害人承担连带责任的，相互之间根据各自责任大小确定相应的赔偿数额；难以确定责任大小的，平均承担赔偿责任。泄漏油船舶所有人支付超出自己应赔偿的数额，有权向其他泄漏油船舶所有人追偿。

These provisions clarify the criminal liabilities that ship owners or operators may face in the event of ship oil pollution accidents, especially when pollution is caused by intentional acts or gross negligence. There are also relevant conventions and regulations internationally for such situations.

这些规定明确了船舶泄漏污染事故中，船舶所有人或经营人可能面临的刑事责任，特别是在故意或重大过失导致污染的情况下，船舶所有人可能会承担相应的刑事责任，国际上针对此类情况也有相关的一些公约和条例。

International Conventions Related to Ship Oil Spill Pollution

国际船舶泄漏污染相关条例

Introduction to the Convention

公约简介

Bunker Convention was adopted on March 23, 2001, and came into effect on November 21, 2008. Its purpose is to ensure that individuals suffering damage caused by the leakage of fuel oil from oil tankers receive full, prompt, and effective compensation. The scope of application covers damages caused by the leakage of fuel oil from oil tankers within the territorial waters, including the exclusive economic zones of the contracting states. The convention focuses on pollution damage, including the loss of the environment polluted by the leaked oil, the cost of restoration, and the cost of preventive measures.

《燃油污染公约》通过于2001年3月23日，并于2008年11月21日生效。其旨在确保因油船燃料油泄漏造成损害的个人能够得到充分、及时和有效的赔偿。适用范围涵盖各缔约国领土、包括领海和专属经济区内因油船燃料油泄漏造成的损害。该公约专注于污染损害，包括泄漏油污染环境的损失、恢复成本和预防措施的费用。

According to the CLC（International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992）, the oil pollution damage caused by ship leakage applies the principle of strict liability. This means that once a ship leakage accident occurs, the shipowner must bear the corresponding legal responsibility, not just the operator or bareboat charterer.

根据《1992年国际油污损害民事责任公约》（简称《1992年油污公约》）的规定，船舶泄漏造成的油污损害适用严格的责任原则。这意味着，一旦船舶发生泄漏事故，船东需要承担相应的法律责任，而不仅仅是由经营人或光船承租人承担责任。

If a ship leaks during its operation, the leaking party must bear the corresponding compensation responsibility, and the non-leaking party may need to bear corresponding compensation responsibility according to the proportion of collision liability of the ships.

如果船舶在运营过程中发生了泄漏，泄漏方需要承担相应的赔偿责任，而非泄漏方则可能需要根据船舶的碰撞责任比例来承担相应的赔偿责任。

Exceptions or Immunities

例外或豁免

1) If an incident is part of a series of events with the same origin, liability shall be borne by the owner of the ship from the time the first event in the series occurred;

1)如某一事故系由具有同一起源的系列事件构成，责任应由从此系列事件的首次事件发生时的船舶所有人承担；

2) There is no immunity from liability as provided in the CLC/HNS Conventions, i.e., no protection for employees, agents, or crew members.

2)没有像CLC /HNS公约中规定的责任排除，即对雇员、代理人或船员没有保护。

3) There is no protection for those engaged in salvage and cleanup operations.

3)对从事打捞和清理工作的人员没有保护。

4) Liability limits such as the 1976 LLMC and other international regimes.

4)责任限制如1976年LLMC等国际制度。

5) The shipowner may lose the right to recourse.

5)船舶所有人可能丧失追偿权。

6) Compulsory insurance, evidenced by a blue card, with limits not exceeding the revised LLMC 1976 compulsory insurance, evidenced by a blue card, not exceeding the 1976 LLMC revision.

6)强制性保险，由保赔蓝卡证明，限额不超过经修订的LLMC 1976强制保险，由保赔蓝卡证明，限额不超过1976年LLMC修订。

7) The strict liability of the shipowner refers to the shipowner (including the registered owner), bareboat charterer, ship manager, and operator.

7)船东的严格责任是指船东（包括注册船东）、光船承租人、船舶管理人和经营人。

8) If the shipowner can prove that the pollution damage was wholly or partly caused by the deliberate act or omission of the person suffering the damage, or by that person's negligence, then the shipowner may be fully or partially exempted from the responsibility. If the shipowner can prove the following, they should not bear responsibility:

8)如船舶所有人证明，污染损害全部或部分系由蒙受损害的人故意造成损害的行为、或不作为、或该人的疏忽所引起，则船舶所有人可全部或部分地免除该人所负的责任。如船舶所有人作出如下证明，则不应承担责任：

1. The damage was caused by acts of war, or extraordinary, inevitable, and irresistible natural phenomena; or

a.损害系由战争等行为，或异常、不可避免和不可抗拒的自然现象所引起；或

1. The damage was entirely caused by the deliberate act or omission of a third party; or

b.损害完全系由第三方故意造成或不作为所引起；或

1. The damage was entirely caused by the erroneous act of the person responsible for the maintenance of navigational aids in the performance of their duties.

c.损害完全系由负责维护助航设施者在履行该职责时的错误行为所引起。

Certificate Requirements (CLC & BCC)

证书要求（CLC&BCC）

1. CLC

1.CLC证书

Oil tanker owners carrying more than 2000 tons of cargo oil must hold insurance, and after the insurance company issues a Blue Card, the flag state issues a "CLC Certificate" to the shipowner, ensuring the scope of insurance liability.

载有超过2000吨货油的油轮船东必须持有保险，保险公司签发蓝卡后，船旗国向船东签发“CLC证书”，确保赔偿责任的保险范围。

2. BCC

2.BCC证书

Any vessel with a gross tonnage exceeding 1000 tons must hold a "Certificate of Oil Pollution Civil Liability Insurance or Other Financial Security" (BCC). After the shipowner insures with an insurance company, the BCC is issued by the competent authority or authorized institution of the flag state. The amount of insurance or financial guarantee should not be less than the limits stipulated by the Convention.

任何总吨位超过1000吨的船舶必须持有“油污损害民事责任保险证书或其他财务保证书”（BCC）。船舶所有人向保险公司投保后，BCC由船旗国主管机关或授权机构签发。保险或财务担保的金额应不低于公约规定的限额。

The importance of ship safety management and environmental protection cannot be overlooked. Globally, the establishment and improvement of the legal system for ship oil pollution compensation provide us with a legal framework for dealing with such incidents. From the Maritime Law of the People's Republic of China to international conventions, these laws and regulations not only stipulate civil compensation liability but also clarify criminal responsibility in cases of intentional acts or gross negligence. Their existence is both a protection for victims and a warning to potential violators. We should strengthen international cooperation, improve ship safety management standards, and jointly protect the marine environment we rely on for survival. Only in this way can we ensure shipping safety, reduce marine pollution, and leave a clean and healthy planet for future generations.

船舶安全管理和环境保护的重要性不容忽视。在全球范围内，船舶油污损害赔偿法律体系的建立和完善，为我们提供了处理此类事件的法律框架。从《中华人民共和国海商法》到国际公约，这些法律法规不仅规定了民事赔偿责任，也明确了在故意或重大过失情况下的刑事责任。它们的存在，既是对受害者的保护，也是对潜在违规者的警示。我们应该加强国际合作，提高船舶安全管理标准，共同保护我们赖以生存的海洋环境。只有这样，我们才能确保航运安全，减少海洋污染，为后代留下一个清洁而健康的地球。