Increase in oil pollution incidents (trends through 2003) - June 2003

Increase in oil pollution incidents (trends through 2003) - June 2003

The number of oil spills in oceans and rivers has reached more than 600 per year, a level higher than the number of conventional marine accidents. In particular, there has been a series of large-scale oil spills caused by accidents involving tankers and cargo ships, and there is concern about the serious impact on the environment. Although the government has strengthened its monitoring system and is taking prompt action, measures to prevent accidents remain inadequate. In response to this situation, there is an urgent need to develop oil recovery technology, and improvements in recovery materials and the introduction of new technologies are underway.

### Related Information
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In July 2020, a large Japanese cargo ship, Wakashiro, ran aground off the coast of Mauritius and spilled fuel oil. Inadequacies in the international compensation system for oil spills caused by cargo ships have been pointed out.

- Legal Aspects of the Mauritius Oil Spill
An analysis of the case from the perspective of the international legal framework, damages, and compensation is provided.

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- Oil spill response manual for businesses (Hiroshima Prefecture)
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