As will be seen, Marpol 73/78 defines definitively the standard of liability to be applied in these areas of the sea by reason of its interaction with the Convention on the Law of the Sea (see B below).
Ilmneb, et MARPOL 73/78 määratleb kooskõlas mereõiguse konventsiooniga ammendavalt nendes merepiirkondades kohaldatava vastutuse kriteeriumi (vt selle kohta allpool punkt B).