Oil Pollution, Liability and Compensation in the Strait of Malacca

Oil pollution damage from ships frequently leads to a public outcry and demands for controls to prevent such incidents in future. The damage caused to the environment, including highly sensitive ecosystems, the beaches (affecting income sources such as fishing and tourism), the adverse effects on the health of the coastal population and the costs relating to the recovery and mitigation of the damage are some of the major problems arising from oil pollution incidents. The development of regulations both international and national governing this area is of paramount importance. This article discusses ship cargo and fuel oil pollution damage occurring largely in the Strait of Malacca and the regulations triggered by the key pollution incidents such as the Nagasaki Spirit and the Evoikos.