선주책임제한제도는 해운업을 보호하고 장려하기 위한 정책적 이유에서 중세 유럽 대륙에서 등장한 이후 해상법의 확립된 법원칙으로 자리 잡고 있다. 이러한 역사성에도 불구하고 동 제도의 정당성에 의문을 제기하는 일부 학자들의 비판은 계속 제기되어 왔다. 특히 대형 유조선으로부터 유류유출 사고가 발생한 경우에는 총 피해액이 관련 국제협약(CLC․FC)에 따라 이용 가능한 총 보상 한도를 초과하는 사건이 많았기 때문에, 책임제한의 존폐를 둘러싼 논쟁이 재연되었다. 유류오염 사고 역시 다양한 불법행위의 유형 중 하나이고, 책임제한은 불법행위로 인한 민사책임의 내용 중 일부를 구성한다. 개별 불법행위의 유형과 그 규율 내용은 차이가 있지만, 이들이 불법행위법이 추구하는 목적 내지 이념에 합치되어야 함은 물론이다. 이런 관점에서 본 논문은 손해의 회복과 사고 예방이라는 불법행위법의 목적 내지 이념에 비추어 유류오염 사고에서 책임제한 제도 자체와 현행 규율 내용이 합당한지를 검토하고, 바람직한 입법 방안을 제시한다.

The limitation of shipowner’s liability has developed as an established principle since it originated from the reasons of policy to protect and promote shipping business. But irrespective of its historical background some scholars has criticized its legitimacy. Especially whenever the oil spill from large tanker occurs, the debates around its maintenance or abolition rekindle, because the total sum of damages from the accident exceeds the compensation limit available according to the conventions like CLC and FC. Oil spill is also a type of torts, and the limitation of liability constitutes the contents of civil liabilities resulting from torts. Although individual type of torts and regulating contents are diverse, they should correspond to the purpose and ideal of torts law. From this perspective, this thesis explores the principle of limitation of liability and the appropriateness of present regulations about oil spill on the grounds of the purpose and ideal of torts law, the restoration of damages and prevention of accidents, and presents some desirable legislative models.

The limitation of shipowner’s liability has developed as an established principle since it originated from the reasons of policy to protect and promote shipping business. But irrespective of its historical background some scholars has criticized its legitimacy. Especially whenever the oil spill from large tanker occurs, the debates around its maintenance or abolition rekindle, because the total sum of damages from the accident exceeds the compensation limit available according to the conventions like CLC and FC. Oil spill is also a type of torts, and the limitation of liability constitutes the contents of civil liabilities resulting from torts. Although individual type of torts and regulating contents are diverse, they should correspond to the purpose and ideal of torts law. From this perspective, this thesis explores the principle of limitation of liability and the appropriateness of present regulations about oil spill on the grounds of the purpose and ideal of torts law, the restoration of damages and prevention of accidents, and presents some desirable legislative models.

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Limitation of Shipowner’s Liability, Oil Pollution Accident, Exception of Limitation, Tort Law, Fair Risk Distribution, Corrective Justice and Distributive Justice, Economic Analysis of Law