IMO to consider faster phaseout of single-hull tankers

LONDON, Apr. 23 -- The International Maritime Organization's marine environment protection committee this week plans to adopt a global timetable to phase out the use of single-hull crude tankers on a faster schedule.

The committee is expected to consider revised legislation during its week-long conference that would have a "major impact" on curbing the pollution caused by oil tankers by pushing plans to scrap single-hull vessels before 2017, "several years earlier" than originally agreed.

"Double-hull tankers offer greater protection of the environment from pollution in the case of certain accidents," said the committee.

The plan to accelerate the elimination of single-hull tankers is contained in a revised regulation 13G of Annex I to MARPOL 73/78 -- the international convention that deals with pollution from vessels. The proposed changes to legislation were approved by the committee in October and sent to all IMO member states.

Other key environmental issues to be discussed at the IMO meeting include finalizing a draft convention to eliminate the use of toxic anti-fouling paints on vessels and the prevention of air pollution from vessels.