Oil Pollution of Maritime Areas Act, 1995 (Act No. 14 of 1995)

2. In th1, Act --- "lmrh, >ur" 111,·1u1·, th,· hurl,(1ur·, rctcrr..-d t, > Ill ·,,•,·\ 11 ,n 1 I ;111d ,pcL·1l 1cd 1111hc Th11\l Sdll'dulc 1t1 tlll' P1lrt, :\u1luin1: ,\et. 1 .,p IY7>: -, ~-1,tr,timc' .\re,,._,. i,K·luJc the tcrrit,,rial •-~·" ;11,d the 1nkn,a! \\;Her, Di' :\nt1gua and BarhudH :h dcl'in..:d 111 lllL' r-.lantim,· Arc,1., Al'I, l lJX~: "'l\-111:,t<.:r'' ;vhcll u.,,·d Ill rcln11rnl h> 1111:, ,,,.,.,,,I rnc'illl:, th,· r..:r:,oll ha1 ing the l"(\!llllli!!lll or chaf!,!L' 11r 1h,· \ L''>>1.'I r,,r lhL· UlllC ticmg; .l.NTIGUA 2 Oil Pof/11/ion of Maritime No. 14 of 1995. AND Areas Ac/ I 'l'I). BARBUDA "oil" indudes oil of any description, spml pmduced from oil and oil mixed wiU1 water: "Port Manager" has U1e same meanmg a,,1!!net.110 1t a~ m section 2 of the Port Authority Act, 1973 and include~ any person acti11g rur Lhe Por! Maiigcr: "vessel" inclm.Jes ship, hoat. tug. lighter or hoat of ;my kmt.l whatsoever whether the ,aine is propellet.l by steam or olhcrw1sc u, 1., 1oweo antl any orner tlescription or ve!;sC! u~ in navigation. 3. ll'IIS Act applies co the Maritime Areas of Antigua and Barhuda. 1',:11al!y for dis- 4. (I) Where oil is discharge~. or allowed to C\rnpe imn any ,•h•,r~,-·, ,f "I I i ntc' th~ Vljrium,: Ar~as. area to wh1c11 UllS Act applies from any vessel. U1e ownerorma.~ter of the vessel from which the oil is discharged or allowed 1ocscape is liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years. (2) Itis a good defence to proceeding, for an offence under thi, section 10 prove that- fa) lhe escape or ml was ctuc !O- ( i) an except1tmal. inevitable anJ ine,i,tihle natu· ral phenomenon: (ii) the vessel heing in colh~1on; (iii) the negligence or wrongful act hy another person not hemg U1e scrvam m agent: anJ that rca,onable step~ were taken hy t.!1e master 1n prevent the escape. or (b) the discharge of the oil is nece~sary by n:a,1 m nt' Ilic happening to I.he vessel of ..,omc damage or a..:c1Jent. l'l.,c~ tn J1.,.:har~~ 5. (I) The Pon Manager may nppoint a plai:c within Amig11a b.,11.l,( Wakr. and Barbuda a! which ballast water may. ll()lwiths1a11di11_c< 1hs: provision~ of ~cctilln 4, he J1.,chargeJ. r-fo. 14 of 1995. Oil Pol/wion of Maritime l ANTIGUA ,'\rnr., Au 19':JJ. AND BARBUDA (2) The times and conditions under which hallast water may he di~cha.i g.cd u11dc1 suli~cuiu11 ( 1) 111,1y be ctetennim::d Uy Lin:: Pu1 l Manager.

6. ( 1) Where ml is discharged or allowed (0 escape into any Liability for pollu- m ea tu which ll1is Act applies t11e owner or master of the ves!sel 1iun. 1s liable - (a) for any damage caused in the area of Anligua and Barhrn.Ja hy com.a:rnmmlon result.mg rrom Ule ctls- charge or escape; (b) for the cos I of any measures taken after the discharge or escape for deaning, preventing or reducing Ule damage in the area of Antigua and Barbuda; (c) for any damage caused in the area of Antigua and Barbmla by Ule measures so taken. (2) Where oil is discharged or escaped from two or more vessels and - (a) liabili!y is incurred under this section by !he owneror -lhe ma-;ter of each or them, hut ID) the damage or cost tor which each ot the owners or the masters would be liable cannot he rea<;onably separated from that for which the other would be liable, each of lhe owners or die mas1crs is liable jointly with the other for the whole of the d;unage or cos\ for which the owners or masters together would b.• liahle under this section.

7. ( l) Where an offcm:e i:; alleged to h:-we be-::11 commiucd Le~al Proceedinss. unJcr rliis Act ;)y a ma.,ter or a vessel. t!-,t. master shall not be pcnmaed to le,m.: Anugua and Barbuda u:illl - ,'11! proi.:cedings have been tak,'n ag:1111~1 him tmder tlli., Acl. UI' ,;';1 lk' !i:h d.:positeJ lO tlw Mag1\lfalC :1 \Uln \\h1d1 the ~ la~1 ~ tr;:lc <.:\ ms id~·rs rt:,L~< m;ihk m tlic circu Jn\ 1am:c.,. ANTIGUA 4 Oil Pol!urion of Maritime No. 14 of 1995. AND i\r~·aJ Atl I 993. BARBUDA (2) Where the master of any vessel alleged to have committed an offt:rn.,c urnkr this Ac;t UcposiL'i such sum as tin: Ma¥isrrate may consider reasonable under subsection I (b) r,roceedings for the offence may, notwithstanding anylhing in the Magistrate's COOe of Procedure Act, be instituted against him at any time wilhin tlut:e yt:ais vr l11s return Lu Anligua and Barbuda. (3) No proceedings shall be brought under this Act after three years uf 1.lie rnm111ilti11g of me offence. (4) Where the master of a vessel who ';s alleged to have commiuctl an offern.:t: under This Act is pennitted to leave Antigua and Barbuda under section 7(1) (b) fails to return to Antigua and Barbuda within lhree years to be proceeded agamst, he shall forfeit any sum so deposited under that section to the Crown, Recovery of fine 8. Where the owner or the master of the vessel fail to pay - .ind cost of damag<' and cleaning. (u:) a.11y liuc imprn,cll by lhe Magisrraie in proceedings against the owner or the master of the vessel for an offence under this Act at the time and in the manner onlered by the Magistrate; or (I,) the coM, for any damage caused by comamination, measures for cleaning, preventing or reducing dam- age in the area, or the damage caused by the measures taken m pursuance ol section 6( I ) (b) be Magistrate shall, without prejudice to any other powers Of the Magistrate for enforcing payrnenL have the power to direct the amoum remammg unpaid to be levied by distress and sale of the vessel, her tackle and furniture. ,\u1hority1om,1itui~ 9. Proceedmgs ror an oltence uw.ter thi~ Ac I shall be ins Ii luted pro,~~dings. by the Port Manger, any police officer or any person with the fiat of the Director of Public Prosecutions. No. 14 of 1995. 01/ Po/fu11vn ofMaririml' 5 ANTIGUA Art'as Ac/ 1995. AND BARBUDA Pas~cd the Hou~ ofRtprcsentmives Passed the Senate this 27th d:iy of Lhi.~ 13th day of Novemher. !995, Novemrier, 1995. B. Harris, M. Percha~ Speaka. President. S. Walker, S, Walker, Clerk of the House of Rrpresentmives. Clerk of1he Senate.