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Ignoring industry opinion as well as
calls by several maritime countries
to adhere to timelines already set
by the International Maritime
Organisation, European Union
governments agreed last week to ban
all single-hulled tankers by 2010 in
an attempt to reduce the risk of
spills like the one that befouled
the coast of Spain last year.
The efforts would be phased in, with
a ban on single-hulled tankers
carrying heavy crude oil taking
effect in July if approved by the
European Parliament.
The ban will apply to all ships
using EU ports and to all vessels
flying European flags.
The European Union's restrictions are similar to those imposed by the United
States after the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska's Prince William Sound in
1989.
European nations moved to set
tighter rules after the tanker
Prestige sank in November off
Spain's Atlantic coast, pouring an
estimated 10 million gallons of fuel
oil into the sea, contaminating
beaches from Portugal to southwest
France.
The new agreement would be binding
on the 15 EU nations.
At a request from Greece, an
exception will be made for small
tankers up to 5,000 tons that
transport fuel to Greek islands.
Operators will have until 2008 to
replace the single-hulled boats.
Earlier this month at a meeting of Asian shipowners in Manila, strong
objection was expressed by the Asian Shipowners Forum to the unilateral move
by European Union to regulate the phasing out of single hull tankers in
waters of the member countries.
The shipowners, which included the Malaysian Shipowners Association (MASA)
agreed that they should explore alternative practical solutions in
cooperation with shipbuilding and other related industries. |
