Background Paper on the Australian Offshore Oil Industry and the International and Domestic Regulatory Regime
Published 1994-07-21
Keywords
- UNCLOS 1982,
- Geneva Conventions of 1958,
- marine environment,
- territorial sea,
- contiguous zone
- exclusive economic zone,
- continental shelf,
- Nation-State sovereignty,
- high seas,
- MARPOL 73/78,
- CLC 1969,
- oil pollution,
- Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation,
- Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf,
- International Convention on Salvage 1989,
- salvage,
- special compensation,
- Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter,
- offshore oil platforms,
- oil industry,
- liquified natural gas,
- petroleum exploration,
- Offshore Constitutional Settlement 1979,
- Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 (Cth),
- Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 (Cth),
- government regulation,
- Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974,
- Navigation Act 1912,
- offshore industry vessels,
- International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972,
- SOLAS 1974,
- pollution clean-up costs ...More
Abstract
The authors begin the paper by considering the impact of UNCLOS 1982 on the classification of marine zones, as well as prior international conventions with respect to the law of the sea, such as the Geneva Conventions of 1958. The authors also broadly address Arts 192-237 of UNCLOS 1982 regarding protection of the marine environment.
Additionally, the authors consider several major international conventions, in particular as they apply to offshore oil drilling platforms. Major features of the offshore petroleum industry are described in some detail, as well as the relevant Commonwealth legislation, and the extent of government regulation.