This book discusses in detail the facts and findings related to the X-Press Pearl container vessel accident that occurred in May 2021 off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The ship was carrying a large consignment of chemicals and diverse hazardous materials that caused a disastrous and vast environmental and social catastrophe in the region. Through many case studies, accumulated knowledge, and experiences, the authors discuss the accident response, risk mitigation, investigation, and damage assessment activities from the very onset of the accident. It helps researchers and regulators understand the facts of this unique marine chemical accident and to formulate necessary future regulations as well as to develop robust safety and sustainability management systems and safety cultures. Features: Written by authorities who led the team involved in accident response and damage assessment Focuses on identifying plausible root causes, pitfalls in accident response, and weaknesses in current regulatory and management protocols Delivers in-depth understanding of a unique marine chemical accident to help formulate necessary future policies and regulations related to such disasters Includes many case studies related to the accident illustrated with photos and figures that are true evidence of the disaster, the response, and the mitigation Explains and discusses key research findings in a streamlined manner understandable for a wide audience A valuable resource for readers in environmental management and policy creation, as well as for researchers, professionals, academics, and students involved in environmental science, chemical engineering, technical safety and sustainability management, maritime, polymer, and ocean sciences. Countries where maritime disasters are a concern will also find this book is an important guide for taking a responsible approach when handling similar situations in the future; not least to avert such events from occurring.

Written by authorities who led the team involved in accident response and damage assessment Focused on identifying plausible root causes, pitfalls in accident response, and weaknesses in current regulatory and management protocols Delivers in-depth understanding of a unique marine chemical accidental to help formulate necessary future policies and regulations related to such disasters Includes many case studies related to the accident illustrated with photos and figures that are true evidence of the disaster, the response, and the mitigation Explain and discusses key research findings in a streamlined manner understandable for a wide audience

International shipping is of great importance for the transport of a great many types of cargo. Substances and products considered dangerous constitute almost 50% of all the payload. It is obvious that stringent regulations are required in order to minimize the risks of accidents. These regulations, which are derived from good practice and which are based on research, have been adopted by a great number of countries. However, emergencies do occur in spite of all precautions. Such emergencies require fast and adequate response in order to confine the consequences for man and his environment to a minimum. Emergency response has political, legal, financial and technical aspects. This makes decision making extremely difficult. The papers carefully prepared and assembled in this book present an up-to-date picture of today's achievements, knowledge and difficulties that are being faced. It was the intention of Oilchem Recovery Denmark and TNO to bring the wide scatter of aspects together in a joined perspective. We also intended to spread the information on latest developments among the many people who are involved in combating calamities and in particular in decision making. Finally, we hope that this conference may help all of us to come to a safer transport of chemicals and a better aquatic environment. We thank all the authors for their magnificent contribution.

In Maritime Pollution Contingency Planning, authors from ten different countries offer descriptions of national and regional contingency plans across the Asia-Pacific region and provide analysis of how contingency planning efforts can continue to be strengthened to avoid future marine pollution disasters.

The book examines whether the jurisdiction of coastal States under international law can be extended to include powers of intervention towards vessels posing a significant risk to their coastal and marine environment, but which have not yet been involved in any incident or accident. The books sets out how it is that coastal State jurisdiction can indeed be seen as including powers of intervention towards High Risks Vessels before an incident or accident happens, on the basis of the precautionary principle. The precautionary principle requires taking action when a risk of damage to the environment is suspected, but cannot be confirmed scientifically.The book thus considers the potential opportunities for the coastal state under international law to regulate international shipping where they consider vessels to an unacceptable risk to the environment, in order to prevent or minimise the risk of occurrence of the accident or incident leading to damage. The book acknowledges that this puts into question some very old and established principles of the law of the sea, most importantly the principle of freedom of navigation. But Bénédicte Sage-Fuller contends that this change would itself be a consequence of the evolution, since the end of WWII, of on the one hand international law of the sea itself, and of international environmental law on the other hand.