LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR MARITIME CLAIMSCentral

Section 203 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025

(1)The right to claim compensation under this Chapter shall be extinguished, if such claim is not made within a period of—
1. (a)three years from the date of occurrence of damage; and
2. (b)six years from the date of incident which caused such damage.
(2)Where the incident consists of a series of occurrences, the period of six years shall commence from the date of the first of such occurrence.

Summary

(1) The right to claim compensation under this Chapter shall be extinguished, if such claim is not made within a period of, (a) three years from the date of occurrence of damage; and (b) six years from the date of incident which caused such damage.
(2) Where the incident consists of a series of.

Practical examples

1A hotel owner notices oil damage on their beach on June 1, 2026. They must file their claim for compensation by June 1, 2029, or they lose their right to sue.

2A ship has a slow leak that lasts for several days starting on January 1. Even if damage is discovered years later, no claim can be made after January 1 of the sixth year following that incident.

FAQ

1. Is there a time limit to claim compensation for bunker oil damage under the 2025 Act?

Yes, under Section 203 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, your right to claim is extinguished, or permanently lost, if you do not act within the specified timeframes.

2. How many years do I have from the date the damage occurred to file a claim?

Under Section 203 of the Act, you must bring your action within three years from the date the damage happened.

3. What is the maximum time allowed from the date of the actual incident?

According to Section 203 of the merchant shipping law, a claim cannot be made more than six years after the date of the incident that caused the damage.

4. If a leak happens over several days, when does the six-year clock start?

Section 203 of the Act states that if an incident is a series of occurrences, the six-year period starts from the date of the very first occurrence.

Test yourself

Q1.Under Section 203 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, a claim for bunker oil damage is lost if not made within how many years of the damage occurring?

Q2.What is the absolute "backstop" deadline for a claim under Section 203 of the Act, regardless of when damage was found?

Q3.For an incident consisting of several events, when does the six-year period begin under Section 203 of the 2025 Act?

Q4.What does the term "extinguished" mean in Section 203 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025?

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LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR MARITIME CLAIMSCentral

Section 203 of The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025

(1)The right to claim compensation under this Chapter shall be extinguished, if such claim is not made within a period of—
1. (a)three years from the date of occurrence of damage; and
2. (b)six years from the date of incident which caused such damage.
(2)Where the incident consists of a series of occurrences, the period of six years shall commence from the date of the first of such occurrence.

Summary

(1) The right to claim compensation under this Chapter shall be extinguished, if such claim is not made within a period of, (a) three years from the date of occurrence of damage; and (b) six years from the date of incident which caused such damage.
(2) Where the incident consists of a series of.