BALTIC SEAENVIRONMENT PROCEEDINGS No. 59 - Helcom

5 .
based greatly on those experiences when the consequences
of major oil accidents have in past been investigated in
Finland.
The Environmental Research Laboratory of the National
Board of Waters and the Environment has recently made
arrangements which will guaranteed that necessary biological
and chemical follow-up studies can be initiated even outside
normal working hours.
NATIONAL OIL POLLUTION COMPENSATION FUND
In this connection one special Finnish solution is worth
mentioning. Finland has a National Oil Pollution
Compensation Fund established and regulated by the Act and
Decree on the Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
Compensations are granted out of the Fund based on the
provisions in various sections of the Act on Prevention of
Pollution from Ships and the Act on Combatting Oil Pollution
on Land. Compensation will be paid to those suffering
damages from oil pollution, as well as to the combatting
authorities for the costs of response actions. If the Fund
compensates the damages and the costs of response operations,
the right to compensations from the party responsible
for the pollution passes to the State.
In addition the local authorities (= municipalities) are
entitled to a full compensation from the Fund to purchase
combatting equipment as well as for the maintenance cost
of the local preparedness in accordance with the ratified
municipal contingency plan.
The municipalities have been granted compensations for the
acquisition costs from the Fund during the 80’s ca. FIM 8
- 15 Millions per year (ca. USD 1,5 - 2,5 M) and this have
made possible the resent good municipal ability level.
After the 1984 amendment of the Acts the State can receive
compensation from the Fund for the costs of purchasing of
combatting vessels and equipment.
The capital of the Fund is collected by levying Oil Pollution
Protection Charge of FIM 2,20 per ton of oil imported
into or transported through Finland (c. USD 0.4). A double
charge (FIM 4,40 = USD 0,8) shall be paid if the oil is
transported in a tanker not fitted with a double bottom
over the entire cargo hold (cf. section 2.1 of the Fund
Act). The total amount collected into the Fund have been
C. FIM 40 million per year after the latest amendment in
1989 (c. USD 7 M) and normally the compensation paid from
the Fund is of the same order.
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