Albanese urges IMO to change maritime pollution rules

In an address to the IMO’s general assembly, Mr Albanese said it was important to lift the existing compensation liability limits.

Citing the Pacific Adventurer oil spill in March, Mr Albanese said the Convention on the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims “proved inadequate to cover clean-up costs".

"It is important that the polluter pay for the damage they cause," he said

"The inadequacy of the existing compensation regime was exposed by the Pacific Adventurer accident off the Queensland coast."

"In that incident, the shipowner was not legally required to pay all the clean-up and compensation costs."

Because of this, the government had to consider raising the Protection of the Sea Levy on the shipping industry to cover the shortfall, he said.

"This is unacceptable to Australia."

Under the current bunker oil compensation regime, formed in 1996, the maximum amount of compensation available would depend on the size of the vessel involved.

Australia’s proposal is to be reviewed by the IMO next year.