Qingdao Maritime Court releases opinions to protect marine environment

Qingdao Maritime Court released opinions to strengthen judicial protection over the marine environment in a press conference on Dec 4.

As regards basic principles of judicial protection over marine environment, it’s necessary to establish systems pertaining to any modification to the environment including punitive compensation.

Communications with the National People’s Congress, procuratorate and marine environmental protection departments should be reinforced and coordination and linkage systems must be established, according to the opinions.

Concerning judicial protection efforts over marine environments, the opinions provide that a review of registration of cases over ocean development and environmental protection should be conducted.

The stipulations provide that regarding foreign-related cases of marine environmental pollution happening in disputed waters, maritime jurisdiction should be properly exercised to protect the legal rights of all parties involved as well as national oceanic rights and interests.

The opinions also point out the necessity of proper execution of duty by administrative departments, such as, for example, hearing of maritime administrative cases. Matters of marine utilization and development should be considered with special attention to any investigation default and to punishment of behavior in violation of laws and regulations.

In the conference, ten typical maritime, commercial and administrative cases involving freight transport, crew service and dock building contracts were also released.

The Qingdao Maritime Court is now responsible for maritime, commercial and administrative cases happening in the region following the shoreline and in the appropriate off-shore sea area.

To date, the court has heard and concluded 3,559 commercial and administrative maritime cases of which 278 involved judicial protection of the marine environment; three of those were public interest litigation.