The Legal Regime of Offshore Oil Rigs in International Law HOSSEIN ESMAEILI, LL.M., Ph.D Lecturer in Law University of New England Ashgate DARTMOUTH Aldershot Burlington USA Singapore Sydney
Contents Preface Foreword Abbreviations x xii xiv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 The General Purpose of the Book 1 1.2 The Current State of Knowledge and Existing Literature 1 1.3 The Issues Under Consideration 3 1.4 The Scope and Perspective of the Book 6 1.5 Outline and Structure of the Book 7 1.5.1 Chapter One: Introduction 7 1.5.2 Chapter Two: Types and Physical Nature of Offshore Oil Rigs 7 1.5.3 Chapter Three: The Legal Status of Oil Rigs 7 1.5.4 Chapter Four: Jurisdiction of States in Relation to Oil Rigs 7 1.5.5 Chapter Five: Protection of Oil Installations 8 1.5.6 Chapter Six: Environmental Issues in Relation to Offshore Oil Rigs 8 1.5.7 Chapter Seven: The Decommissioning of Offshore Oil Rigs 9 1.5.8 Chapter Eight: The Conflict Between the Use of Oil Rigs, Navigation and Other Uses of the Sea 9 1.5.9 Chapter Nine: Conclusions 9 Notes 10 2 Types and Physical Nature of Offshore Oil Rigs 11 2.1 Introduction 11 2.2 Early Oil Rig History 11 2.3 Facts and Statistics About Oil Rigs 12 2.4 Classification of Oil Rigs and Platforms 12 2.4.1 Mobile Units 12 2.4.2 Fixed Units 16
vi The Legal Regime of Offshore Oil Rigs in International Law 2.5 Conclusions and Comments 17 Notes 17 3 The Legal Status of Offshore Oil Rigs 20 3.1 Introduction 20 3.2 Oil Rigs as'ships' 21 3.2.1 Definition of 'Ship' in Municipal Law 21 3.2.2 'Mobile Oil Rigs' as 'Ships' in Municipal Law 24 3.2.3 Fixed Oil Rigs as Ships in Municipal Law 27 3.2.4 'Ships' and 'Oil Rigs' in International Law 28 3.2.5 Oil Rigs as Ships in the Practice of States 40 3.2.6 Conclusion 41 3.3 Oil Rigs as Artificial Islands 42 3.4 Oil Rigs as a Separate Category 44 3.5 Oil Rigs Under the 1982 LOSC 49 3.6 Conclusion 52 Notes 53 4 Jurisdiction of States in Relation to Oil Rigs 69 4.1 Introduction 69 4.2 State Rights to Construct Oil Rigs 69 4.2.1 Within Internal Waters 70 4.2.2 In the Territorial Sea 71 4.2.3 In the Exclusive Economic Zone 75 4.2.4 In the Area of the Continental Shelf 77 4.2.5 On the High Seas 83 4.2.6 In the International Seabed Area 86 4.3 Control and Exercise of Jurisdiction Over Oil Rigs 88 4.3.1 Criminal Jurisdiction 89 4.3.2 Civil Jurisdiction 100 4.3.3 Jurisdiction in Relation to Customs, Fiscal Matters and Immigration 103 4.4 Conclusion 107 Notes 109 5 Protection of Offshore Oil Rigs 122 5.1 Introduction 122 5.2 Laws and Regulations of the Coastal State in the Territorial Sea 123
Contents vii 5.3 Safety Zones Around Oil Rigs 125 5.3.1 History of Safety Zones 126 5.3.2 The Breadth of the Safety Zone 126 5.3.3 Types of Oil Rigs which May be Protected by the Safety Zone 128 5.3.4 Conclusions and Comment on Safety Zones 129 5.4 IMO Resolutions 129 5.4.1 Resolution A.621(15) 130 5.4.2 Resolution A. 671(16) 131 5.4.3 Comment on IMO Resolutions 132 5.5 The 1988 Protocol for the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism Against Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf 132 5.6 State Practice 135 5.7 Conclusion 137 Notes 138 Environmental Issues Relating to Offshore Oil Rigs 146 6.1 Introduction 146 6.2 Nature of the Problem 147 6.3 Sources of Pollution from Oil Rigs 148 6.3.1 Pollution from Seabed Activities 148 6.3.2 Pollution from Land Based Sources 149 6.3.3 Pollution by Dumping 149 6.4 Applicable International Law 150 6.4.1 International Customary Law and General Principles oflaw 150 6.4.2 Global Conventions 152 6.4.3 Regional Conventions 158 6.4.4 Evaluation of Global and Regional Treaties 165 6.5 International State Responsibility 167 6.6 Civil Liability for Environmental Harm Resulting from Petroleum Production from Oil Rigs 169 6.6.1 LOSC 169 6.6.2 The 1976 Civil Liability Convention 171 6.6.3 The Nordic Convention 172 6.6.4 The 1976 Offshore Pollution Liability Agreement (OPOL) 172
viii The Legal Regime of Offshore Oil Rigs in International Law 6.6.5 Evaluation of Existing Treaties Relating to Civil Liability for Environmental Harm Resulting from Offshore Activities 173 6.6.6 Domestic Regulations 174 6.7 Conclusion 176 Notes 177 7 The Decommissioning of Offshore Oil Rigs 190 7.1 Introduction 190 7.2 Problems of Dumping Platforms at Sea 191 7.2.1 Environmental Issues 191 7.2.2 Health and Safety Implications 191 7.2.3 Economic Impact 192 7.2.4 Public Concern 192 7.2.5 Comment on the Problems of Dumping Platforms at Sea 192 7.3 Disposal Options 192 7.3.1 Leave in Place 193 7.3.2 Alternative Use 193 7.3.3 Moving to Shore for Recycling 193 7.3.4 Artificial Reefs 194 7.3.5 Total and Partial Removal 194 7.3.6 Comment on Disposal Options 195 7.4 International Law Provisions Relating to Decommissioning of Oil Installations 195 7.4.1 Worldwide Conventions 195 7.4.2 Regional Conventions 205 7.4.3 Domestic Legislation and State Practice 211 7.5 Conclusion 217 Notes 219 8 The Conflict Between the Use of Oil Rigs, Navigation and Other Uses of the Sea 228 8.1 Introduction 228 8.2 Conflict with Fisheries 229 8.2.1 On the Continental Shelf 230 8.2.2 IntheEEZ 230 8.2.3 On the High Seas 234
Contents IX 8.3 Conflict with Navigation 8.3.1 In the EEZ and Continental Shelf 8.3.2 In the High Seas 8.4 Conflict with Laying of Cables and Pipelines 8.5 Conflict with Other Uses of the Sea 8.5.1 Artificial Islands and Structures for Purposes Other Than the Exploration and Exploitation of the Natural Resources of the Sea 8.5.2 Conflict with Marine Scientific Research 8.5.3 Conflict with Recreational Activities and Dredging 8.6 Conclusion Notes 236 236 240 241 243 243 244 247 248 249 9 Conclusions 9.1 Introduction 9.2 What Was Done 9.3 Findings 9.4 Recommendations 9.4.1 Suggestions for Each Significant Legal Issue 9.4.2 General Recommendation Notes Bibliography Table of Treaties Table of Cases Table of Statutes Index 261 261 263 265 266 283 287 289 299