Oil pollution damage caused by oil spills at sea generally occurs on a large scale across numerous regions and countries, causing significant harm to marine ecosystems as well as worldwide economic loss. The costs are so severe in many instances that the owner of the ship responsible for the pollution cannot afford to pay compensation to those who have suffered loss. As a consequence, the need to cover oil pollution damages has given rise to compulsory liability insurance, which provides a financial guarantee against the costs of oil spills. Compulsory civil liability insurance has therefore become an indispensable part of the liability regime for owners of oil tankers and bunkers.

海上溢油造成的油污损害通常在众多地区和国家大规模发生，对海洋生态系统造成重大危害，并在全球范围内造成经济损失。在许多情况下，成本是如此之高，以至于对污染负有责任的船东无法向遭受损失的人支付赔偿金。因此，承保油污损害的需要催生了强制责任保险，该保险为石油泄漏成本提供财务担保。因此，强制性民事责任保险已成为油轮和燃油船东责任制度中不可或缺的一部分。