Civil liability for oil‐pollution damage on the Norwegian continental shelf

Abstract

This paper will survey the legal framework which controls civil liability for oil‐pollution damage emanating from the extraction and transportation of petroleum on the North Sea. This framework largely comprises two Intergovernmental Maritime Consulative Organization conventions dealing with vessel‐source pollution damage and a newly created convention among the northwest European states concerning pollution damage caused by offshore drilling operations. The major purpose of this paper is to familiarize the reader with these conventions as they apply to a party seeking recovery under Norwegian law. In addition, preceding domestic legislation and case‐law doctrines which may still be relevant will be discussed.