Danas je jedan od ozbiljnijih i vrlo zabrinjavajućih problema s kojim su suočene mnoge obalne države onečišćenje morskog okoliša. Spomenuti je problem vrlo aktualan, posebno zbog tankerskih havarija koje su potresle svijet, a čijem su riziku izloženo more i organizmi u njemu. Međunarodna pomorska organizacija koja je danas najvažniji čimbenik razvoja pomorskog prava, nakon Konvencije iz 1954. uvodi međunarodni sustav o sprječavanju onečišćenja mora i morskog okoliša, prouzročenog ispuštanjem ulja, prerađevina i drugih štetnih tvari s brodova, a to je Međunarodna konvencija o sprječavanju onečišćenja s brodova. Bez obzira na činjenicu što postoji interes za zaštitom okoliša, izlijevanje ulja u more neupitno za sobom nosi različite štetne posljedice za cijeli svijet. Također, kako bi se pronašlo odgovarajuće rješenje spomenute problematike, vrlo je bitno za cilj imati postizanje uravnotežene zaštite morskog okoliša od onečišćenja ove vrste zajedno s odgovornošću za štete koje su posljedica nastalih onečišćenja.

Today, one of the most serious and very troublesome problems faced by many coastal states is pollution of the marine environment. This problem is very important, especially because of tanker havoc that has shaken the world, and whose risk is exposed to the sea and the organism in it. International maritime organization, which is today the most important factor in the development of maritime law, in order to deal more effectively with the above-mentioned problems, after the Convention of 1954., introduced international document on the prevention of pollution of the sea and the marine environment, caused by release of oil, and other substances from ships, International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. Regardless of the fact that there is an interest in environmental protection, a concrete example in this paper, pouring oil into the sea, undoubtedly carries various adverse consequences for the entire world. Also, in order to find the appropriate solution to the above mentioned issues, it is essential to achieve a balanced protection of the marine environment from the pollution of this species, together with the responsibility for the damage caused by the pollution.