Conflicting Interpretations--The Slops Incident and the Application of the International Oil Pollution Liability and Compensation Regime to Offshore Storage and Transfer Operations

Abstract

This analysis discusses recent developments in the international regime for oil pollution liability and compensation. It considers whether or not the regime is applicable to certain offshore storage and transfer operations. The analysis takes into account developments in the policy of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund on this topic, as well as the decisions of the Greek courts in the case of the Slops incident. It concludes that the current scope of the regime is unclear and there is a need to promote greater uniformity in the interpretation of the international regime.