Marine pollution law passed

By MOUA OMOA
PNG has a workable legislation to protect its waters with parliament passing the Marine Pollution Act with an absolute majority last Wednesday.
Transport Minister Ano Pala presented the bill to address the level of pollution caused by ships moving in and out of PNG waters.
Pala said PNG was a signatory and member country of many international conventions, however, there was no law in place to regulate or address water pollution.
Under the Marine Pollution Act are five specific acts:
n    Marine pollution: Ships and Installations Regulations Act 2013 – to provide for the prevention and control of marine pollution from any vessel and any offshore installation in PNG waters incorporated into PNG laws of marine pollution prevention and control and to repeal the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act and the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Regulation.
n    Marine pollution:  Liability and Cost Recovery Act 2013 – to provide for and establish a National Marine Pollution Fund, to provide for liability, insurance, the recovery of costs and the payment of compensation relating to pollution damage in, on  or to PNG waters incorporating PNG laws on the act and to repeal the Protection of the Sea (Shipping Levy) Act 2004.
n    Marine pollution: Ballast Water Control Act 2013 – to prevent, reduce and control the introduction of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens to PNG waters via ships ballast and water sediments, incorporating PNG laws on relevant to international conventions on control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments.
n    Marine pollution: Sea Dumping Act 2013 – to provide for the prevention and control of marine pollution from the dumping and incineration of wastes and other matter in PNG waters, incorporating PNG laws on dumping and incineration of wastes and other matter and to repeal the Dumping of Wastes at Sea Act.
n    Marine pollution: Preparedness and Response Act 2013 – basically works to incorporate laws of PNG and relevant provisions of certain conventions on marine pollution and preparedness working with neighbouring countries to provide for the effective response to and control of spills of oil or chemicals from vessels that threaten to pollute PNG
waters.