A vessel was suspected of leaking oil and the Border Guard imposed an oil discharge fee on the vessel owner. The owner appealed on the grounds that the fee was imposed on the wrong party, since the vessel was operated by the operator at that time. However, the owner had not raised this argument when the fee had been imposed and the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.
Partners Matti Komonen and Herman Ljungberg from Hammarström Puhakka Partners, Attorneys Ltd, have written an update on this matter. The update titled “Supreme Court rules which party is liable for oil-spill fee” has been published in the International Law Office’s newsletter.
