Senate Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Oil Spills From Non-Tank Vessels

On Tuesday, a Senate subcommittee hearing focusing on oil spills from non-tank vessels was held in Washington. Among those testifying was U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who advised those present of the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard to “reduce and mitigate oil spills from nontank vessels.” The key question raised by the meeting was to ask whether standards and statutory requirements for these “nontank” vessels should be ramped up. In the wake of the Cosco Busan allision, steam appears to be gathering in Washington to do just that.

In his speech given to the committee, ADM Allen advocated a number of measures, and also said that, "the limited data available indicates that increasing liability limits per incident for single hull tank ships, tank barges and nontank vessels greater than 300 gross tons in particular would result in a more balanced cost share between responsible parties and the Oil Spill Liability Trust fund while positively impacting the Fund balance."

Allen’s statement can be read in its entirety by clicking HERE.