Because the liability of ship owners is limited, classification societies have been considered as exempt from liability. This book analyses which actions of classification societies may give rise to claims and whether or not the societies can be held liable under English, German or American maritime law. In addition, it develops the fundamental aspects of an international convention on the limitation of the liability of classification societies.

Oil tankers are not solely to blame for pollution at sea. Non-tankers have released numerous spills. The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage has been adopted, but has not yet come into force. This timely and comprehensive book studies compulsory insurance, its main purpose of ensuring compensation and its interrelations with other features such as the rule of strict liability, the limitation of liability of that convention.

"This publication contain the texts of the documents which resulted from the work of the 1992 International Conference on the Revision of the 1969 Civil Liability Convention and the 1971 Fund Convention. The Conference, which was convened by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), met in London from 23 to 27 November 1992"--Page iii

This eighth annual edition analyzes the international community's position on specific environment and development problems, the main obstacles to effective international solutions, and how to overcome them. It assesses both the achievements and shortcomings of co-operation, distinguishing between the rhetoric and the reality of environmental world politics.

"Guide to International Environmental Law" addresses why and how the international system elaborates environmental obligations and monitors compliance with them. The book discusses the relationship between international obligations and national and local law, with particular reference to federal systems. It points out the influence national law has on the emergence of international law and the growing role international norms play in the development and enforcement of national and local environmental policies. It also examines the extent to which environmental protection should be and is taken into account in other regulatory frameworks, from trade law and human rights to disarmament and refugee policy.

The main focus of this important book is on civil liability regimes to compensate for ecological/environmental damage, the impact of EC decision-making on the international regime for oil pollution damage, the use of environmental funds in this respect, the economic valuation of damage to the environment from a theoretical perspective and the application of the Contingent Valuation Method in Belgium for ecological damage at sea.