The ERIKA Judgment - Environmental Liability and Places of Refuge: A Sea Change in Civil and Criminal Responsibility That The Maritime Community Must Heed

A comprehensive analysis of environmental liability and places of refuge issues facing shipowners, charterers, and classification societies in connection with oil pollution from a distressed vessel. The article reviews a landmark 2008 decision from a French court against the shipowner, charterer, and classification society for the 1999 ERIKA oil spill off the coast of France, and offers an analysis of the potential liabilities for oil pollution under US laws such as OPA 90', environmental statutes, and places of refuge. 

READ: The ERIKA Judgment - Environmental Liability and Places of Refuge: A Sea Change in Civil and Criminal Responsibility That The Maritime Community Must Heed

Reprinted with permission from Tulane Maritime Law Journal.