A study of civil liability for oil pollution damage: The difference between OPA and CLC

Abstract

According to the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC), the United States is one of the largest importers of oil in the world. Before the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC), the United States was among active participants in the deliberations of the adoption of the international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage. Nevertheless, until the time the CLC was written in 1969 and came into force from 1975, the United States has not become a party to the CLC regime. The United States issued its own law - Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990. Within this article, the author will analyse the differences between CLC and OPA, which will help us better understand them.