Different Regime Applied to Liability for Oil Pollution Damage

With regard to its reaction or probably overreaction to the disastrous incident of oil spill from "Exxon Valdez" in Alaska, the United States of America put into law Oil Pollution Acts 1990 (OPA 1990). This Acts establishes a new liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage from ship operations, which is different from the regime adopted by the rest of the world. OP A 1990 adopts unlimited liability whereas the rest of the world who join with CLC 1969, TOVALOP 1969, FUND Convention 1971 and CRISTAL 1971 adopt strict liability. OP A' s unlimited liability has set very high cost that could not be held up by all groups involved in ship operations, such as shipping companies, insurance market, oil companies, and finally consumer.