Status «ecological» obligations of a flag state as an integral part of the «genuine link» conception

The modern legal regime of a flag State’s status “ecological” obligations is composed by a legislation (laws and regulations) of two levels: international and national. The legislation of both the levels is consistent with the generally accepted international rules, standards and recommended practices and procedures, the “UNCLOS’82”, the rights of States and prescribes, inter alia, measures to be taken for the protection and preservation of the marine environment pollution – measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment – the States’ “ecological” obligations. It is generally accepted in international maritime law to dived abovementioned obligations in: status “ecological” obligations of the “shore States”, status “ecological” obligations of the “port States” and status “ecological” obligations of the “flag States”. The research topic is certainly relevant given the almost catastrophic situation due to pollution of the world's oceans and the environment in general. The research methodology includes methods of analysis and synthesis, dogmatic method and comparative law method. This research focuses on the definition of the modern international legal regime of a flag State’s status “ecological” obligations. These obligations form a flag State’s legal status and could be qualified as an integral part of the “genuine link” conception. The author of the article concluded that the current conventions in the field of maritime law aimed at protecting the world's oceans play an important role, but no less important tasks are to improve national legislation of coastal countries, as well as proper implementation of both international and national norms aimed at the protection and restoration of the world's oceans.