Exam Question

### Background and Relevance of the Bunker Convention, 2001
The International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) was adopted to address a significant gap in the international maritime pollution liability regime. Prior to its entry into force, conventions like the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (CLC-92) primarily covered pollution damage caused by the escape or discharge of persistent oil *carried as cargo* by tankers.
This left a major loophole: spills of bunker fuel from non-tanker vessels (e.g., container ships, bulk carriers, passenger ships) were not covered by a uniform international system. Victims of such spills often faced immense difficulty in obtaining adequate and prompt compensation. The financial consequences of a bunker spill can be just as severe as a cargo spill, involving extensive cleanup costs and economic losses for coastal communities.
The relevance of the Bunker Convention is rooted in the following points: