Maritime risk

Legislative changes signal hard times for small lines facing consolidation and tough new rules on pollution including individual criminal liability. Robert Driver and Ian Giles, solicitors in Norton Rose’s shipping group, report.

We are nearing the end of a particularly dynamic year in the maritime sector that has seen many new and significant legislative developments. Of particular importance is the European Commission (EC) position on the application of EC competition law to liner consortia and conferences as well as ‘tramp’ vessel services (non-scheduled, bulk shipping) and the introduction of criminal liability for mariners and shipowners with regard to ship-source pollution, as part of the package of regulations introduced following the Erica III disaster.