Maritime Transport Act 1994

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

352: Liability of shipowners for damages for pollution damage only under this Act

You could also call this:

"Ship owners are responsible for paying damages if their ship pollutes the sea or seabed in New Zealand."

If a ship pollutes the sea or seabed in New Zealand, you can only claim damages from the ship's owner as set out in sections 344, 345, and 346. You cannot claim damages from the owner's employees or agents, or from people who help with salvage operations. You also cannot claim damages from these people under sections 345 or 346, unless they personally did something to cause the pollution on purpose or recklessly.

You cannot claim damages from the ship's crew, pilot, or other people who work on the ship, unless they personally did something to cause the pollution on purpose or recklessly. This also applies to people who charter, manage, or operate the ship, or who help with salvage operations or try to prevent pollution.

If someone does something to cause pollution on purpose or recklessly, you can claim damages from them, but only if their actions directly caused the pollution.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM338133.


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351: Distribution of amounts paid in satisfaction of liability, or

"How the court shares out money when a ship owner is liable for damages"


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353: Restrictions on enforcement of claims against shipowners, or

"Rules to follow when making a claim against a shipowner for pollution from their ship"

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

352Liability of shipowners for damages for pollution damage only under this Act

  1. Where any pollution damage is caused in New Zealand, the internal waters of New Zealand, or New Zealand marine waters, or the seabed below such waters, by the discharge or escape of a harmful substance, or the dumping of waste or other matter, from a ship into the sea or the seabed,—

  2. the only claim in damages that may be made against the owner of that ship in respect of pollution damage caused by that discharge or dumping is as provided in sections 344, 345, and 346; and
    1. no claim in damages may be made under section 344 against the employees or agents of that owner, and any person performing salvage operations with the consent of the owner or the Director in respect of pollution damage caused by that discharge or dumping; and
      1. no claim in damages may be made under section 345 or section 346 against—in respect of pollution damage caused by that discharge or dumping unless the pollution damage resulted from that person’s personal act or omission, committed with intent to cause pollution damage or recklessly as to whether pollution damage would probably occur.
        1. the employees or agents of the owner or the members of the crew of the ship; or
          1. the pilot or any other person who, without being a member of the crew, performs services for the ship; or
            1. despite paragraph (a)(iii) of the definition of the term owner in section 222(2), any charterer, manager, or operator of the ship; or
              1. any person performing salvage operations with the consent of the owner or the Director; or
                1. any person taking measures to prevent pollution damage; or
                  1. any servant or agent of a person described in subparagraphs (iii) to (v),—
                  Notes
                  • Section 352: substituted, on , by section 5 of the Maritime Transport Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 53).