“The intensity of the operation of vessels in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian Sea, the volumes of oil and fuel transported cause a potential risk of water pollution. Thus, it is planned to ratify the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of 2001 and the 1992 protocol to amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, ”the site of the Committee of Transport of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan reports.

Ratification of the protocol will increase the shipowner's liability for damage from oil pollution during transportation by tankers. It is also expected to increase the size of the shipowner's liability insurance from 20 to 126 million dollars; the amount of compensation for damage from oil pollution will depend on the displacement of the vessel.

Currently, in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, more than 300 ships are sailing under the flag of Kazakhstan. 12 vessels are involved in international transportation, others support operations in the development of oil fields. In addition, dozens of ships from other Caspian states call at ports of Kazakhstan every day.

It is also worth recalling that in 2017, measures to protect vessels and port infrastructure from terrorist threats were strengthened. Thus, the requirements for the need to regularly conduct an assessment of port security have been established. In addition, from now on every port and every ship must have a special plan for a prompt response in case of an attack.