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 you're not responsible for pollution damage from your ship"

Illustration for Maritime Transport Act 1994

You are not liable for pollution damage from your ship if you can prove it was caused by war or a natural disaster. You are not liable if someone else did it on purpose to cause damage. You are not liable if it was caused by someone responsible for navigational aids being negligent. You are also not liable if the person making a claim against you caused the pollution damage on purpose or through negligence. This applies to claims made under section 344, section 345, or section 346. You must prove that the claimant or their employee caused the damage.

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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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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).