Maritime Transport Act 1994

Civil liability for pollution of marine environment - Liability for pollution from ships

348: Defences to shipowner’s liability for pollution damage

You could also call this:

"When ship owners are not responsible for pollution damage"

If you own a ship, you are not liable for pollution damage under section 344, section 345, or section 346 if you can prove the pollution happened because of an act of war or a natural disaster. You are also not liable if the pollution was caused by someone else on purpose, or if it was caused by the negligence of a government or authority responsible for maintaining navigational aids. You are not liable if the pollution was caused by the person making the claim against you.

If you can prove the pollution was caused by the person making the claim against you, or by their employee, you are not liable for damages under section 344, section 345, or section 346. This is also the case if the pollution was caused by the negligence of the person making the claim or their employee. You must be able to prove this to avoid being liable.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM338121.


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349: Reduction of shipowner’s liability for pollution damage where contributory negligence, or

"Ship owners pay less if the person hurt by pollution was also to blame"

Part 25Civil liability for pollution of marine environment
Liability for pollution from ships

348Defences to shipowner’s liability for pollution damage

  1. The owner of a ship shall not be liable under section 344, section 345, or section 346 if the owner proves that the discharge or escape, or the grave and imminent threat of the discharge or escape,

  2. resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war, insurrection, or a natural phenomenon of an exceptional, inevitable, and irresistible character; or
    1. was wholly caused by the act or omission of a third person, other than the employee or agent of the owner, with intent to cause damage; or
      1. was wholly caused by the negligence or other wrongful act of any government or other authority, or of any person, responsible for the maintenance of lights or other navigational aids in the exercise of its functions in relation to those lights or aids.
        1. The owner of a ship shall not be liable in damages to a claimant under section 344, section 345, or section 346 if it is proved that the discharge or escape, or the grave and imminent threat of the discharge or escape, was wholly caused by the act or omission of that claimant, or the employee or agent of that claimant, with intent to cause damage, or was wholly caused by the negligence of that claimant or the employee or agent of that claimant.

        Compare
        • 1974 No 14 s 33(1), (3)
        Notes
        • Section 348(1): amended, on , by section 7(1)(a) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 59).
        • Section 348(1): amended, on , by section 7(1)(b) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 59).
        • Section 348(1): amended, on , by section 7(1)(c) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 59).
        • Section 348(2): amended, on , by section 7(2)(a) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 59).
        • Section 348(2): amended, on , by section 7(2)(b) of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 59).