President Medvedev signs the Law on RF accession to International Bunker Convention
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RF President Dmitri Medvedev has signed the Federal Law No 230-FZ dated 03.12.2008 "On RF accession to International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001", press center of RF Transport Ministry reports.
The bill "On RF accession to International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001" prepared by the RF Ministry of Transport was approved by State Duma of the Russian Federation on November 21, 2008 while the Federation Council approved it on November 26.
The Convention was adopted at a Diplomatic Conference held by IMO in London on March 23 2001. It regulates liability for bunker oil pollution damage. It applies to damage caused on the territory, including the territorial sea, and in exclusive economic zones of States Parties. It regulates liability for bunker oil pollution damage. It applies to damage caused on the territory, including the territorial sea, and in exclusive economic zones of States Parties.
The Convention requires ships over 1,000 gross tonnage to maintain insurance or other financial security to cover the liability of the registered owner for pollution damage.
This Convention shall enter into force one year following the date on which 18 States, including five States each with ships whose combined gross tonnage is not less than 1 million, have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary-General.
The Convention came into effect on November 21, 2008. As of January 1, 2008 the document is ratified or acceded to by 18 states including Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Singapore.
The Convention does not apply to naval ships, naval auxiliary vessels and other vessels owned or operated by the state exclusively for non-commercial governmental services.