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Uimhir 13 de 1998
AN tACHT UM OLA-THRUAILLIÚ NA FARRAIGE (DLITEANAS SIBHIALTA AGUS CÚITEAMH) (LEASÚ), 1998
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Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
An tAcht Cuanta, 1996 | 1996, Uimh. 11 |
Na hAchtanna um Dhlínse Mhuirí, 1959 go 1988 | |
Na hAchtanna um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige, 1956 go 1977 | |
An tAcht um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh), 1988 | |
An tAcht um Thruailliú na Farraige, 1991 | 1991, Uimh. 27 |
Uimhir 13 de 1998
AN tACHT UM OLA-THRUAILLIÚ NA FARRAIGE (DLITEANAS SIBHIALTA AGUS CÚITEAMH) (LEASÚ), 1998
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO THABHAIRT ÉIFEACHTA DO PHRÓTACAL 1992 AG LEASÚ AN CHOINBHINSIÚIN IDIRNÁISIÚNTA AR DHLITEANAS SIBHIALTA I LEITH DAMÁISTE Ó OLA-THRUAILLIÚ, 1969, ARNA DHÉANAMH I LONDAIN AN 27Ú LÁ DE SHAMHAIN, 1992, AGUS DO PHRÓTACAL 1992 AG LEASÚ AN CHOINBHINSIÚIN IDIRNÁISIÚNTA AR BHUNÚ CISTE IDIRNÁISIÚNTA LE hAGHAIDH CÚITIMH AS DAMÁISTE Ó OLA-THRUAILLIÚ, 1971, ARNA DHÉANAMH I LONDAIN AN 27Ú LÁ DE SHAMHAIN, 1992, AGUS CHUN NA CRÍCHE SIN DO LEASÚ AN ACHTA UM OLA-THRUAILLIÚ NA FARRAIGE (DLITEANAS SIBHIALTA AGUS CÚITEAMH), 1988. [14 Bealtaine, 1998]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
Míniú.
1.—San Acht seo, ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh), 1988.
Feidhm.
2.—(1) Beidh feidhm ag ailt 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 agus 15 maidir le tarluithe a tharlaíonn ar thosach feidhme na n-alt sin nó dá éis.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag ailt 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 agus 14 maidir le tarluithe a tharlaíonn ar thosach feidhme na n-alt sin nó dá éis.
(3) Beidh feidhm ag alt 3, a mhéid a thugtar éifeacht leis do Phrótacal 1992 ag leasú an Choinbhinsiúin Idirnáisiúnta ar Dhliteanas Sibhialta i leith Damáiste ó Ola-Thruailliú, 1969, maidir le tarluithe a tharlaíonn ar thosach feidhme na bhforálacha dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo nó dá éis.
(4) Beidh feidhm ag alt 3, a mhéid a thugtar éifeacht leis do Phrótacal 1992 ag leasú an Choinbhinsiúin Idirnáisiúnta ar Bhunú Ciste Idirnáisiúnta le haghaidh Cúitimh as Damáiste ó Ola-Thruailliú, 1971, maidir le tarluithe a tharlaíonn ar thosach feidhme na bhforálacha dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo nó dá éis.
(5) Chun críocha an Achta seo, measfar, maidir le tarlú arb é atá ann sraith teagmhas leis an mbunús céanna, gur tharla sé an tráth a tharla an chéad teagmhas de na teagmhais sin.
Leasú ar alt 3 den Phríomh-Acht.
3.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 3 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) i bhfo-alt (1)—
(i) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “an Coinbhinsiún ar an gCiste”:
“ciallaíonn ‘an Coinbhinsiún ar an gCiste’ an Coinbhinsiún Idirnáisiúnta ar Bhunú Ciste Idirnáisiúnta le haghaidh Cúitimh as Damáiste ó Ola-Thruailliú, 1971, arna dhéanamh sa Bhruiséil an 18ú lá de Nollaig, 1971, agus folaíonn sé aon Choinbhinsiún nó Prótacal a dhaingnigh an Stát, a ghlac an Stát, a cheadaigh an Stát nó ar aontaigh an Stát dó roimh an Acht um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh) (Leasú), 1998, a rith agus lena leasaítear nó lena leathnaítear an Coinbhinsiún sin;”,
(ii) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (b) sa mhíniú ar “údarás cuain”:
“(b) i gcás cuain faoi bhainistíocht nó faoi rialú cuideachta arna bunú de bhun alt 7 den Acht Cuanta, 1996, an chuideachta lena mbaineann;”,
(iii) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “tarlú”:
“ciallaíonn ‘tarlú’ aon teagmhas nó sraith teagmhas leis an mbunús céanna, is cúis le damáiste ó thruailliú nó arb ionann é agus gar-bhagairt mhór bheith ina chúis le damáiste den sórt sin;”,
(iv) trí mhír (c) a scriosadh sa mhíniú ar “cigire”,
(v) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “an Coinbhinsiún ar Dhliteanas”:
“ciallaíonn ‘an Coinbhinsiún ar Dhliteanas’ an Coinbhinsiún Idirnáisiúnta ar Dhliteanas Sibhialta i leith Damáiste ó Ola-Thruailliú, 1969, agus folaíonn sé aon Choinbhinsiún nó Prótacal a dhaingnigh an Stát, ar ghlac an Stát leis, a cheadaigh an Stát nó ar aontaigh an Stát dó roimh an Acht um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh) (Leasú), 1998, a rith agus lena leasaítear nó lena leathnaítear an Coinbhinsiún sin;”,
(vi) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “ola”:
“ciallaíonn ‘ola’ aon ola mhianrach hidreacarbóin mharthanach, lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, amhola, ola bhreosla, ola throm dhíosail nó ola bhealaithe cibé acu a iompraítear ar bord loinge mar lasta nó i mbuncair loinge den sórt sin í;”,
(vii) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “damáiste ó thruailliú”:
“ciallaíonn ‘damáiste ó thruailliú’ caillteanas nó damáiste a tharlaíonn lasmuigh de long agus a thig as éalú nó scaoileadh amach ola as an long sin, cibé áit a dtarlaíonn an t-éalú nó an scaoileadh amach sin, agus measfar go bhfolaíonn sé—
(a) na costais i leith beart réasúnach a dhéanfar chun caillteanas nó damáiste den sórt sin a chosc nó a laghdú (lena n-áirítear bearta a dhéanfar lasmuigh den Stát, nó de Thír Choinbhinsiúin, de réir mar a bheidh, chun caillteanas nó damáiste den sórt sin laistigh den Stát nó laistigh den Tír Choinbhinsiúin sin a chosc nó a laghdú), agus
(b) aon chaillteanas nó damáiste eile arb iad na bearta sin is cúis leis;”,
(viii) tríd an míniú ar “oifigeach cosanta iascaigh mhara” a scriosadh, agus
(ix) tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur isteach:
“ciallaíonn ‘long’—
(a) soitheach farraige nó árthach muiriompartha d'aon chineál, atá déanta nó oiriúnaithe chun ola a iompar i mbulc mar lasta,
(b) soitheach farraige nó árthach muiriompartha atá in ann ola agus lastaí eile a iompar agus atá ag iompar ola i mbulc mar lasta de thuras na huaire, nó
(c) soitheach farraige nó árthach muiriompartha atá in ann ola agus lastaí eile a iompar agus, tar éis lasta ola a dhíluchtú uaidh, a mbíonn iarmhair ola ann sna spásanna sin atá oiriúnaithe nó déanta chun ola a iompar i mbulc mar lasta;”,
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (2):
“(2) Folaíonn tagairt san Acht seo don Stát—
(a) tagairt d'uiscí intíre an Stáit,
(b) tagairt d'fharraigí teorann an Stáit, agus don ghrinneall agus don fho-ithir faoi na farraigí sin,
(c) tagairt d'aon limistéar atá, de thuras na huaire, arna ainmniú le hordú faoi alt 2 den Acht um an Scairbh Ilchríochach, 1968, agus do na huiscí os a chionn, agus
(d) tagairt d'aon limistéar atá laistigh de líne, a bhfuil gach pointe di 200 míle farraige ó na bunlínte chun críocha na nAchtanna um Dhlínse Mhuirí, 1959 go 1988, agus do na huiscí os a chionn:
Ar choinníoll nach bhforléireofar an fhomhír seo mar ní is éileamh ag an Stát ar aon limistéar—
(i) atá faoi dhlínse stáit seachas an Stát, agus
(ii) a n-aithníonn an Stat é a bheith faoi dhlínse den sórt sin.”,
(c) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach:
“(2A) Folaíonn tagairt san Acht seo do Thír Choinbhinsiúin—
(a) tagairt d'fharraigí teorann agus d'uiscí intíre na Tíre Coinbhinsiúin lena mbaineann, agus
(b) tagairt don limistéar atá lastall de na farraigí teorann faoi dhlínse Tíre Coinbhinsiúin, agus tadhlach leo, a mhéid a aithnítear amhlaidh faoin dlí idirnáisiúnta, agus nach síneann níos faide ná 200 míle farraige ó na bunlínte óna dtomhaistear farraigí teorann na Tíre Coinbhinsiúin sin.”,
agus
(d) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (5):
“(5) Déanfar tagairt san Acht seo d'aon achtachán a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don achtachán sin arna leasú, arna oiriúnú nó arna leathnú le haon achtachán ina dhiaidh sin nó faoi, cibé acu roimh thosach feidhme an ailt seo nó dá éis.”.
Leasú ar alt 7 den Phríomh-Acht.
4.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 7 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur in ionad mhír (b) i bhfo-alt (1):
“(b) in aon chás ina leanann damáiste ó thruailliú as tarlú ina bhfuil dhá long nó níos mó i gceist, beidh úinéir gach loinge den sórt sin, ach amháin mar a bhforáiltear a mhalairt leis an Acht seo, faoi dhliteanas go comhpháirteach agus go leithleach i leith gach damáiste den sórt sin a mhéid nach inleithlithe an damáiste sin go réasúnach;”,
agus
(b) trí mhír (d) a scriosadh i bhfo-alt (1).
Díolúine ó dhliteanas i leith damáiste ó thruailliú.
5.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur leis:
“(2) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) d'alt 7, ní bheidh na daoine seo a leanas faoi dhliteanas i leith damáiste ó thruailliú sa Stát ar long is cúis leis, eadhon—
(a) seirbhíseach nó gníomhaire de chuid úinéir na loinge nó de chuid duine dá dtagraítear i mír (d), (e) nó (f),
(b) comhalta d'fhoireann na loinge,
(c) an píolóta nó aon duine eile, seachas comhalta d'fhoireann na loinge a thugann seirbhísí i ndáil leis an long,
(d) aon chairtfhostóir (cibé tuairisc atá air, lena n-áirítear cairtfhostóir lánchostais), bainisteoir nó oibritheoir de chuid na loinge,
(e) aon duine a dhéanann oibríochtaí tarrthálais i ndáil leis an long le toiliú úinéir na loinge nó de réir treoracha ó údarás cuain, nó
(f) aon duine a ghabhann bearta de láimh chun damáiste ó thruailliú a chosc nó a laghdú,
mura rud é go leanann sé as gníomh nó neamhghníomh pearsanta an duine sin agus gur bheartaigh an duine sin, trína ghníomh nó trína neamhghníomh, a chur faoi deara an damáiste sin a dhéanamh nó go raibh sé meargánta i dtaobh ar dhócha go dtarlódh damáiste den sórt sin de thoradh an ghnímh nó an neamhghnímh sin, agus go raibh a fhios aige gur dhócha go dtarlódh sé amhlaidh.”.
Teorannú ar dhliteanas i leith damáiste ó thruailliú.
6.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur isteach in ionad alt 10:
“10.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), beidh feidhm ag na forálacha seo a leanas maidir le húinéir a bheidh faoi dhliteanas, de bhun alt 7, i leith damáiste ó thruailliú, is é sin le rá—
(a) féadfaidh an t-úinéir lena mbaineann teorainn a chur lena dhliteanas de réir an Achta seo;
(b) i gcás ina gcuirfidh an t-úinéir lena mbaineann teorainn lena dhliteanas de réir an Achta seo, ní rachaidh a dhliteanas i leith aon tarlaithe aonair—
(i) thar 3 mhilliún aonad cuntais, nó
(ii) i gcás loinge atá os cionn 5,000 aonad tonnáiste, thar chomhiomlán na n-aonad seo a leanas—
(I) 3 mhilliún aonad cuntais, agus
(II) méid i leith gach aonaid tonnáiste os cionn 5,000 aonad tonnáiste, i gcás nach mó ná 420 aonad cuntais méid dhliteanas an úinéara i leith gach aonaid den sórt sin:
Ar choinníoll nach mó ná 59.7 milliún aonad cuntais i leith tarlaithe aonair an méid comhiomlán a mbeidh an t-úinéir faoi dhliteanas ina leith;
(c) i gcás ina bhfuil scaoileadh amach ola ina chúis le damáiste ó thruailliú sa Stát agus i gcríoch Tíre Coinbhinsiúin agus gur chuir úinéir na loinge ónar scaoileadh amach an ola teorainn lena dhliteanas de réir an Achta seo beidh feidhm, maidir le comhiomlán a dhliteanais sa Stát agus in aon Tír Choinbhinsiúin lena mbaineann, ag an teorainn sin ar dhliteanas an úinéara;
(d) más rud é, de réir dlí Tíre Coinbhinsiúin, gur chuir úinéir teorainn lena dhliteanas beidh an chúirt, an binse nó an t-údarás riaracháin sa Tír Choinbhinsiúin sin, a bhfuil an dlínse nó an chumhacht aici nó aige dliteanas a chinneadh i leith damáiste ó thruailliú agus cúiteamh a dhámhachtain i leith an chéanna, inniúil go heisiach chun gach ní a chinneadh a bhaineann le ceapadh agus le dáileadh aon airgid a taisceadh leis an gcúirt, leis an mbinse nó leis an údarás riaracháin, de réir mar a bheidh, maidir le dliteanas an úinéara.
(2) Ní bheidh úinéir loinge i dteideal teorainn a chur lena dhliteanas faoin Acht seo más rud é—
(a) gur tharla an scaoileadh amach ola ón long de thoradh gnímh nó neamhghnímh phearsanta dá chuid, agus
(b) gur bheartaigh sé, tríd an ngníomh nó an neamhghníomh sin, a chur faoi deara damáiste ó thruailliú a dhéanamh nó go raibh sé meargánta i dtaobh ar dhócha go dtarlódh damáiste ó thruailliú de thoradh an ghnímh nó an neamhghnímh sin, agus go raibh a fhios aige gur dhócha go dtarlódh sé amhlaidh.”.
Tonnáiste na loinge a ríomh.
7.—Leasaítear leis seo an Príomh-Acht tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 11:
“11.—(1) Chun dliteanas úinéara loinge a ríomh faoi threoir tonnáiste loinge is é an tonnáiste an t-olltonnáiste arna ríomh de réir na rialachán maidir le tonnáiste a thomhas atá in Iarscríbhinn 1 den Choinbhinsiún Idirnáisiúnta maidir le Tonnáiste Long a Thomhas, 1969.
(2) Más rud é nach féidir tonnáiste na loinge a ríomh de réir na rialachán maidir le tonnáiste a thomhas dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) déanfaidh cigire, má ordaíonn Cúirt dó amhlaidh, an tonnáiste a dheimhniú arbh é, ina thuairim agus ag féachaint don fhianaise a bheidh sonraithe san ordú, tonnáiste na loinge é dá ndéanfaí an tonnáiste sin a ríomh de réir na rialachán sin maidir le tonnáiste a thomhas agus measfar gurb é an tonnáiste arna dheimhniú i ndeimhniú an chigire tonnáiste na loinge sin.”.
Leasú ar alt 17 den Phríomh-Acht.
8.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 17 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (3):
“(3) Féadfaidh ráthóir teorainn a chur lena dhliteanas faoin alt seo;”,
agus
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach:
“(3A) I gcás ina gcuirfidh ráthóir teorainn lena dhliteanas faoin alt seo beidh feidhm ag ailt 10(1)(b) agus 12 fara na modhnuithe is gá.”.
An Ciste Cúitimh Idirnáisiúnta um Ola-Thruailliú, 1992.
9.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 19 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “sa Chiste Cúitimh Idirnáisiúnta um Ola-Thruailliú, 1992” a chur in ionad “sa Chiste Cúitimh Idirnáisiúnta um Ola-Thruailliú” i bhfo-alt (2),
(b) trí “a chinnfear de réir Rialacháin Inmheánacha an Chiste” a chur in ionad “a chinnfidh Tionól an Choinbhinsiúin ar an gCiste” i bhfo-alt (3), agus
(c) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach:
“(3A) Beidh an Ciste ina chomhlacht corpraithe le comharbas suthain agus beidh cumhacht agartha aige agus beidh sé inagartha ina ainm corpraithe agus beidh cumhacht aige talamh nó leas i dtalamh a fháil, a shealbhú agus a dhiúscairt agus aon mhaoin eile a fháil, a shealbhú agus a dhiúscairt.”.
Leasú ar alt 20 den Phríomh-Acht.
10.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 20 den Phríomh-Acht trí fho-ailt (6), (7), (8) agus (9) a scriosadh.
Leasú ar alt 21 den Phríomh-Acht.
11.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 21 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), i gcás ina dtabhóidh an Ciste dliteanas faoin Acht seo i leith damáiste ó thruailliú sa Stát, ní bheidh méid comhiomlán an chúitimh is iníoctha maidir le haon tarlú amháin—
(a) in imthosca ina mbeidh cúiteamh íoctha ag duine seachas an Ciste i leith damáiste ó thruailliú a thig as an tarlú sin, níos mó ná cibé méid a d'fhágfadh go rachadh méid cónasctha an chúitimh thar 135 mhilliún aonad cuntais, nó
(b) in imthosca ina leanann an damáiste ó thruailliú as feiniméan nádúrtha de chineál eisceachtúil, dosheachanta agus dochoiscthe, níos mó ná 135 mhilliún aonad cuntais.”,
(b) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (2):
“(2) I gcás ina dtarlaíonn tarlú le linn tréimhse nuair nach lú ná 3 pháirtí atá sa Choinbhinsiún ar Dhliteanas agus nach lú ná 600 milliún tonna an chainníocht iomchuí chónasctha d'amhola agus d'ola bhreosla a allmhairítear isteach i gcríocha aon 3 cinn de na páirtithe sin le linn na bliana roimh an mbliain ina dtarlaíonn an tarlú lena mbaineann, beidh éifeacht le fo-alt (1) ionann is dá mba thagairtí do 200 milliún aonad cuntais tagairtí san fho-alt sin do 135 mhilliún aonad cuntais.”,
agus
(c) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (3):
“(3) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn ‘méid comhiomlán an chúitimh’, i ndáil le tarlú, an méid uasta cúitimh is iníoctha ag an gCiste, i leith damáiste ó thruailliú a thig as an tarlú, de bhua aon cheann amháin nó níos mó díobh seo a leanas a chur i bhfeidhm:
(a) an tAcht seo,
(b) dlí Tíre Coinbhinsiúin, nó
(c) an Coinbhinsiún ar an gCiste;
ciallaíonn ‘méid cónasctha an chúitimh’ i ndáil le tarlú, an méid cúitimh a bheidh íoctha ag duine seachas an Ciste, i leith damáiste ó thruailliú a thig as an tarlú, agus méid comhiomlán an chúitimh.”.
Leasú ar alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht.
12.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) trí “Ní thionscnófar caingean in aghaidh an Chiste—” a chur in ionad “Faoi réir fho-alt (2), ní thionscnófar caingean in aghaidh an Chiste—” i bhfo-alt (1), agus
(b) trí fho-alt (2) a scriosadh.
Leasú ar alt 23 den Phríomh-Acht.
13.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 23 den Phríomh-Acht trí “dá dheasca” a chur in ionad “nó slánaíochta dá dheasca faoi alt 20”.
Leasú ar alt 30 den Phríomh-Acht.
14.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 30 den Phríomh-Acht trí na focail “nó slánaíochta” a scriosadh i bhfo-alt (1).
Leasú ar alt 37 den Phríomh-Acht.
15.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 37 den Phríomh-Acht—
(a) tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (3):
“(3) Féadfar imeachtaí i leith ciona faoin Acht seo a thionscnamh in aon áit sa Stát agus féadfar déileáil leis an gcion chun gach críche teagmhasaí mar chion a rinneadh san áit sin.”, agus
(b) trí fho-alt (4) (a cuireadh isteach le mír 5 den Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht um Thruailliú na Farraige, 1991) a scriosadh.
Tagairtí sa Phríomh-Acht a fhorléiriú.
16.—Déanfar tagairtí sa Phríomh-Acht—
(a) do na hAchtanna um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige, 1956 go 1977, a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don Acht um Thruailliú na Farraige, 1991, agus
(b) do long a iompraíonn ola i mbulc mar lasta a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí do long (de réir bhrí alt 3(1) den Phríomh-Acht arna leasú leis an Acht seo).
Alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht a aisghairm.
17.—Aisghairtear leis seo alt 18 den Phríomh-Acht.
Gearrtheideal.
18.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh) (Leasú), 1998, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh), 1988 go 1998, a ghairm den Acht um Ola-Thruailliú na Farraige (Dliteanas Sibhialta agus Cúiteamh), 1988, d'alt 37 den Acht um Thruailliú na Farraige, 1991, agus den Acht seo le chéile agus forléireofar le chéile iad mar aon Acht amháin.
(3) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú nó le horduithe i gcoitinne nó faoi threoir aon chríche nó forála áirithe agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a cheapadh amhlaidh chun críoch éagsúil nó le haghaidh forálacha éagsúla.
Number 13 of 1998
OIL POLLUTION OF THE SEA (CIVIL LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1998
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Acts Referred to | |
1968, No. 14 | |
1996, No. 11 | |
Maritime Jurisdiction Acts, 1959 to 1988 | |
Oil Pollution of the Sea Acts, 1956 to 1977 | |
Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) Act, 1988 | 1988, No. 11 |
1991, No. 27 | |
Number 13 of 1998
OIL POLLUTION OF THE SEA (CIVIL LIABILITY, AND COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1998
Definition.
1.—In this Act, “the Principal Act” means the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) Act, 1988.
Application.
2.—(1) Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 15 shall apply in respect of incidents occurring on or after the commencement of those sections.
(2) Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 shall apply in respect of incidents occurring on or after the commencement of those sections.
(3) Section 3, in so far as it gives effect to the Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, shall apply in respect of incidents occurring on or after the commencement of the provisions referred to in subsection (1) of this section.
(4) Section 3, in so far as it gives effect to the Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971, shall apply in respect of incidents occurring on or after the commencement of the provisions referred to in subsection (2) of this section.
(5) For the purposes of this Act, an incident that consists of a series of occurrences having the same origin shall be deemed to have occurred on the happening of the first of those occurrences.
Amendment of section 3 of Principal Act.
3.—Section 3 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) in subsection (1)—
(i) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “the Fund Convention”:
“‘the Fund Convention’ means the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971, done at Brussels on the 18th day of December, 1971, and includes any Convention or Protocol ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to by the State, before the passing of the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Act, 1998, amending or extending that Convention;”,
(ii) the substitution in the definition of “harbour authority” of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):
“(b) in the case of a harbour under the management or control of a company established pursuant to section 7 of the Harbours Act, 1996, the company concerned;”,
(iii) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “incident”:
“‘incident’ means any occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin that causes pollution damage or creates a grave and imminent threat of causing such damage;”,
(iv) the deletion in the definition of “inspector” of paragraph (c),
(v) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “the Liability Convention”:
“‘the Liability Convention’ means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969, and includes any Convention or Protocol ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to by the State, before the passing of the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Act, 1998, amending or extending that Convention;”,
(vi) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “oil”:
“‘oil’ means any persistent hydrocarbon mineral oil including, in particular, crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil whether carried on board a ship as cargo or in the bunkers of such a ship;”,
(vii) the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “pollution damage”:
“‘pollution damage’ means loss or damage occurring outside a ship arising from the escape or discharge of oil from such ship wherever such escape or discharge occurs, and shall be deemed to include—
(a) the costs of reasonable measures taken to prevent or lessen such loss or damage (including measures taken outside the State, or a Convention Country, as the case may be, to prevent or lessen such loss or damage within the State or within that Convention Country), and
(b) any further loss or damage caused by such measures;”,
(viii) the deletion of the definition of “sea fisheries protection officer”, and
(ix) the insertion of the following definition:
“‘ship’ means—
(a) a seagoing vessel or seaborne craft of any type, constructed or adapted for the carriage of oil in bulk as cargo,
(b) a seagoing vessel or seaborne craft capable of carrying oil and other cargoes that is for the time being carrying oil in bulk as cargo, or
(c) a seagoing vessel or seaborne craft capable of carrying oil and other cargoes that, following the unlading from it of a cargo of oil, contains residues of oil in those spaces adapted or constructed for the carriage of oil in bulk as cargo;”,
(b) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):
“(2) A reference in this Act to the State includes a reference to—
(a) the inland waters of the State,
(b) the territorial seas of the State, and the seabed and subsoil beneath those seas,
(c) any area for the time being that stands designated by order under section 2 of the Continental Shelf Act, 1968, and the waters above it, and
(d) any area that lies within a line, every point of which is at a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines for the purposes of the Maritime Jurisdiction Acts, 1959 to 1988, and the waters above it:
Provided that this subparagraph shall not be construed as constituting a claim by the State to any area that—
(i) is under the jurisdiction of a state other than the State, and
(ii) the State recognises as being under such jurisdiction.”,
(c) the insertion of the following subsection:
“(2A) A reference in this Act to a Convention Country includes a reference to—
(a) the territorial seas and inland waters of the Convention Country concerned, and
(b) the area beyond and adjacent to the territorial seas under the jurisdiction of a Convention Country, to the extent so recognised under international law, and extending not more than 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial seas of that Convention Country are measured.”,
and
(d) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (5):
“(5) A reference in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended, whether before or after the commencement of this section, by or under any subsequent enactment.”.
Amendment of section 7 of Principal Act.
4.—Section 7 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution in subsection (1) of the following paragraph for paragraph (b):
“(b) in any case where pollution damage results from an incident involving two or more ships, the owner of each such ship shall, save where this Act otherwise provides, be jointly and severally liable for all such damage in so far as such damage is not reasonably severable;”,
and
(b) the deletion in subsection (1) of paragraph (d).
Exemption from liability for pollution damage.
5.—Section 8 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the addition of the following subsection:
“(2) Subject to subsection (2) of section 7, the following persons shall not be liable for pollution damage in the State caused by a ship, namely—
(a) a servant or agent of the owner of the ship or of a person referred to in paragraph (d), (e) or (f),
(b) a member of the crew of the ship,
(c) the pilot or any other person, other than a member of the crew of the ship who performs services in relation to the ship,
(d) any charterer (howsoever described, including a bareboat charterer), manager or operator of the ship,
(e) any person performing salvage operations in relation to the ship with the consent of the owner of the ship or on the instructions of a harbour authority, or
(f) any person undertaking measures to prevent or lessen pollution damage,
unless it results from the personal act or omission of such person and such person intended by his act or omission to cause such damage or was reckless as to whether, and had knowledge that, such damage would probably occur as a result of such act or omission.”.
Limitation on liability for pollution damage.
6.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 10:
“10.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the following provisions shall apply in respect of an owner who is liable pursuant to section 7 for pollution damage, that is to say—
(a) the owner concerned may limit his liability in accordance with this Act;
(b) where the owner concerned limits his liability in accordance with this Act, his liability for any single incident shall not exceed—
(i) 3 million units of account, or
(ii) in the case of a ship exceeding 5,000 units of tonnage the aggregate of—
(I) 3 million units of account, and
(II) an amount in respect of each unit of tonnage in excess of 5,000 units of tonnage, where the amount of the owner's liability in respect of each such unit does not exceed 420 units of account:
Provided that the aggregate amount for which the owner shall be liable shall not exceed 59.7 million units of account in respect of a single incident;
(c) where a discharge of oil causes pollution damage both in the State and in the territory of a Convention Country, and the owner of the ship from which the oil was discharged has limited his liability in accordance with this Act, the limitation on the liability of the owner shall apply to the aggregate of his liability in the State and in any Convention Country concerned;
(d) where, in accordance with the law of a Convention Country, an owner has limited his liability, the court, tribunal or administrative authority in that Convention Country that has the jurisdiction or power to determine liability for pollution damage and to award compensation therefor shall be exclusively competent to determine all matters relating to the appointment and distribution of any monies lodged with the court, tribunal or administrative authority as the case may be, in respect of the owner's liability.
(2) The owner of a ship shall not be entitled to limit his liability under this Act where—
(a) the discharge of oil from the ship occurred as a result of his personal act or omission, and
(b) he intended by such act or omission to cause pollution damage, or was reckless as to whether, and had knowledge that, pollution damage would probably occur as a result of such act or omission.”.
Calculation of tonnage of ship.
7.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution of the following section for section 11:
“11.—(1) For the purposes of calculating the liability of the owner of a ship by reference to the tonnage of a ship the tonnage shall be the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations contained in Annex 1 of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.
(2) If the tonnage of the ship cannot be calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations referred to in subsection (1) an inspector shall, if so directed by a Court, certify the tonnage that, in his opinion and having regard to the evidence specified in the direction would be the tonnage of the ship if such tonnage were calculated in accordance with the said tonnage measurement regulations, and the tonnage as certified in the certificate of the inspector shall be reckoned to be the tonnage of that ship.”.
Amendment of section 17 of Principal Act.
8.—Section 17 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):
“(3) A guarantor may limit his liability under this section;”,
and
(b) the insertion of the following subsection:
“(3A) Where a guarantor limits his liability under this section sections 10(1) (b) and 12 shall apply with the necessary modifications.”.
International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1992.
9.—Section 19 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution in subsection (2) of “the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1992” for “the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund”,
(b) the substitution in subsection (3) of “in accordance with the Internal Regulations of the Fund” for “by the Assembly of the Fund Convention”, and
(c) the insertion of the following subsection:
“(3A) The Fund shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and to acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in land and to acquire, hold and dispose of any other property.”.
Amendment of section 20 of Principal Act.
10.—Section 20 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the deletion of subsections (6), (7), (8) and (9).
Amendment of section 21 of Principal Act.
11.—Section 21 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) Subject to subsection (2), where the Fund incurs a liability under this Act in respect of pollution damage in the State, the aggregate amount of compensation payable in respect of any one incident shall—
(a) in circumstances where compensation has been paid by a person other than the Fund in respect of pollution damage arising out of that incident, not exceed such amount as would cause the combined amount of compensation to exceed 135 million units of account, or
(b) in circumstances where the pollution damage results from a natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable and irresistible character, not exceed 135 million units of account.”,
(b) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (2):
“(2) Where an incident occurs during a period when there are not less than 3 parties to the Liability Convention and the combined relevant quantity of crude oil and fuel oil imported into the territories of any 3 of those parties during the year preceding the year in which the incident concerned occurs, amounts to not less than 600 million tons, subsection (1) shall have effect as if references therein to 135 million units of account were references to 200 million units of account.”,
and
(c) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):
“(3) In this section—
‘the aggregate amount of compensation’ means, in relation to an incident, the maximum amount of compensation payable by the Fund, in respect of pollution damage arising out of the incident, by virtue of the application of any one or more of the following:
(a) this Act,
(b) the law of a Convention Country, or
(c) the Fund Convention;
‘combined amount of compensation’ means, in relation to an incident, the amount of compensation paid by a person other than the Fund, in respect of pollution damage arising out of the incident, and the aggregate amount of compensation.”.
Amendment of section 22 of Principal Act.
12.—Section 22 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution in subsection (1) of “An action shall not be brought against the Fund—” for “Subject to subsection (2), an action shall not be brought against the Fund—”, and
(b) the deletion of subsection (2).
Amendment of section 23 of Principal Act.
13.—Section 23 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the deletion of the words “or indemnity under section 20”.
Amendment of section 30 of Principal Act.
14.—Section 30 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the deletion in subsection (1) of the words “or indemnity”.
Amendment of section 37 of Principal Act.
15.—Section 37 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by—
(a) the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (3):
“(3) Proceedings for an offence under this Act may be taken in any place in the State and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed in that place.”, and
(b) the deletion of subsection (4) (inserted by paragraph 5 of the Second Schedule to the Sea Pollution Act, 1991).
Construction of references in Principal Act.
16.—References in the Principal Act to—
(a) the Oil Pollution of the Sea Acts, 1956 to 1977, shall be construed as references to the Sea Pollution Act, 1991, and
(b) a ship carrying oil in bulk as cargo shall be construed as references to a ship (within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Principal Act as amended by this Act).
Repeal of section 18 of Principal Act.
17.—Section 18 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed.
Short title.
18.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) (Amendment) Act, 1998.
(2) The Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) Act, 1988, section 37 of the Sea Pollution Act, 1991, and this Act may be cited together as the Oil Pollution of the Sea (Civil Liability and Compensation) Acts, 1988 to 1998, and shall be construed together as one Act.
(3) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.