Accelerated Single-Hull Tanker Phase Out

After the single-hull bottom tanker "Athos I" spilled oil in the Delaware River on November 26, 2004, many in Congress now want the phase out of single-hull tankers accelerated from 2015 to 2010. Under these suggested guidelines one-third of the U.S. tanker fleet would lose up to five years service.



It is estimated that the accelerated plan would affect 1,700 U.S.-flagged and 70 foreign single-hull tankers, which is approximately 38 percent of the world fleet. Additionally, 1,648 single-hull tank barges, 14 U.S. tankers and 72 foreign tankers with double-bottoms or double-sides (retrofitted single-hulls) would lose between one to five years of service.



Current Phase out:

The new regulations effecting single hull tankers was adopted in December 2003 as amendments to Annex I of the MARPOL Convention, following the November 2002 sinking of the single-hull tanker "Prestige" off the Spanish coast.



Under the revised regulation 13G of MARPOL Annex I, "Category I" single-hull oil tankers of 20,000 tons and above carrying crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil, and ships of 30,000 tons and above carrying other oils, which do not comply with the requirements for protectively located segregated ballast tanks, are not able to trade after April 5, 2005 (for ships delivered on or before April 5, 1982 or earlier) or after their anniversary date in 2005. The same is true for Category II - tankers of 20,000 tons and Category III - tankers of 5,000 tons delivered on April 5, 1977 or earlier.