Pollution at Sea: Vessel Impacts and Regime Interaction in Ocean, Climate and Biodiversity Law (SeaPact)

The ocean is central to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
While critical for planetary health, it faces strain from human activities, with vessel activities
emerging as a major source of harm. From discharges to marine litter, these activities’
environmental impacts are diverse. The legal response to vessel-based pollution remains
fragmented across regulatory frameworks. SeaPact examines marine pollution from exhaust gas
cleaning systems and marine litter as both raise questions about international legal regimes
governing marine protection. Regime interaction theory is used to understand these challenges.
This theory helps avoid conflicts and enhance the productive space between regimes by identifying
regulatory friction, clarifying legal competences and uncovering opportunities for coherence.
SeaPact seeks to contribute to an integrated understanding of how international law can respond to
vessel activities' environmental impacts.