What is the CLC, and how does it differ from the Bunkers Convention?

flowchart LR
  A["Persistent cargo oil spilt from a tanker"] --> B["CLC 1992: strict liability channelled to the registered owner, compulsory insurance, certificate for more than 2,000 tonnes"]
  B --> C["Owner limits by tonnage, fund constituted"]
  C --> D["Second tier: IOPC Fund 1992, paid by oil receivers"]
  D --> E["Third tier for members: Supplementary Fund"]

• CLC 1992: compensation for pollution damage from persistent oil carried as cargo by a tanker, in a Party’s territory, territorial sea and EEZ.
• Strict liability on the registered owner, with narrow exceptions: act of war, a third party’s wholly intentional act, negligence of a navigational-aids authority.
• Insurance and limitation: tankers carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of persistent oil cargo carry insurance and a CLC certificate (direct action against the insurer); the owner limits by tonnage unless personally at fault.
• Second tier: the 1992 Fund Convention (IOPC Fund), paid by oil receivers, where the CLC is insufficient or the owner is exonerated or cannot pay; a Supplementary Fund as a third tier.
• Against Bunkers: CLC is tanker cargo oil, registered owner, IOPC Fund; Bunkers is the ship’s own fuel on any ship, broad shipowner, LLMC limits, no fund.
• As Chief Engineer: prevent the spill (system integrity, SOPEP); a laden tanker carries a valid CLC certificate; India: MS Act 2025 s.180, s.199, s.215, s.221.