Aspects of Oil Pollution

Abstract

B.J. Brooke-Smith was a Director with A. Bilbrough & Co Ltd, the Managers of the London Steam-Ship Owners' Mutual Association Ltd. This article charts the recent history of discussions around oil pollution, beginning with the case of Southport Corporation v Esso from 1954 in the English Court of Appeal. The author also draws reference to the Torrey Canyon disaster, and especially the introduction of the CLC 1969. In terms of the CLC 1969, the author discusses the concepts of pollution damage, strict liability, limitation, compulsory insurance, and channelling of liability, as embedded in the convention.