Oil spill pollution: The North Sea experience of cooperative measures

The North Sea is a relatively small yet intensely used area, rich in various resources. It is bounded by six highly industrialized and contains the world's busiest shipping channel. It exemplifies the problems of control and management of marine resources, in particular in relation to oil pollution. This paper summarizes major sources of hydrocarbon pollution in the North Sea, discussing the levels and different types of oil pollution arising from different activities. The international and regional conventions bearing on hydrocarbon pollution in the North Sea are documented with reference to some recent comments on the adequacy of the existing legal regime. Initiatives to improve and develop scientific and technical knowledge and cooperation among North Sea states are examined. Specific measures to establish arrangements for monitoring and remedial action is the event of an oil spill are discussed. The paper also describes the implementation of MARPOL 73/78 for the North Sea, documents European Economic Community responses to oil pollution, and, finally, discusses the most recent initiative, the International North Sea Conference (November 1984) that will address the complex problem of oil pollution in the North Sea.