Marine pollution: New laws coming

The Government will shortly introduce new legislation for the prevention of marine pollution in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.
A Marine Environment Protection Authority will be created under this Act and this body will formulate and execute a scheme of work for the prevention, reduction, control and management of pollution arising out of ship based activity and shore based maritime related activity in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka and the Maritime Zone, its fore-shore and the coastal shore of Sri Lanka.

The Authority will formulate and implement the National Oil Pollution Contingency Plan and oversee, regulate and supervise the conduct of contractors, service sub-contractors and persons conducting or engaged in exploration of natural resources including petroleum and related activities.

The new law will also require every ship that enters the territorial waters of Sri Lanka to carry record books relating to oils, harmful substances or any other pollutants with details of the loading of oil cargo, the transfer of oil cargo to and from ships as well as other relevant details.

The new Act will also lay down the steps to be taken by those engaged in exploration of natural resources including petroleum and related activity to prevent pollution.

The Authority will have the power to prosecute the owner, operator, master or agent of any ship if there has been a discharge of a substantial quantity of oil, harmful substance or other pollutant, either accidentally or dumped and if they fail to take the prescribed steps to prevent, mitigate, control and clean up any pollution. Those who dump oil or harmful substances without a permit from the Authority too will be prosecuted.

Those guilty of offences under this Act will be liable for fines ranging from Rs.500,000 up to Rs.15 million, depending on the severity of the offence.

The Marine Pollution Prevention Bill to give effect to the new laws was presented to Parliament by the Environmental and Natural Resources Ministry recently and is likely to be taken up for debate next month.