The Act consists of 38 sections divided into 6 Parts: Preliminary (I); Prevention of marine pollution (II); dumping and incineration of wastes (III); Marine casualties (IV); Liability and compensation for oil pollution damage (V); Miscellaneous provisions (VI).
Section2 contains interpretations. Section 3 prohibits discharge of oil or pollutants into the territorial sea and exclusive Economic Zone of the Cook Islands. The same section defines exemptions from the prohibition. Section 4 prohibits discharge of garbage and sewage into the sea. Section 5 concerns inspection of equipment to deal with waste on vessels. Section 7 formulates a duty to report on discharge and section 8 prescribes a duty to report on threatened discharges. Oil tankers of a specified size shall keep oil records. No dumping of wastes or incineration of waste shall take place without a permit (sect. 12). Radioactive matter or nuclear waste shall be transported in accordance with Article IV of the London Dumping Convention (sect. 13). Section 14 concerns storage of such waste or matter.