Accelerated phasing-in of double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers

PURPOSE: to prevent heavy duty oil tankers from flying the flag of a Member State in a single-hull oil tanker.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EC) No 457/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 417/2007 on the accelerated phasing-in of double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers.

CONTENT: in order to reduce the risk of accidental oil pollution in European waters,  EU law provides for the accelerated phasing-in of double-hull or equivalent design requirements for single-hull oil tankers. In 2002, Regulation (EC) 417/2002 was adopted in a bid to prohibit the carriage of heavy grades of oil in single-hull oil tankers leaving or bound for ports in the European Union. However, EU provisions are in conflict with certain IMO specifications (set out in MARPOL Annexes) which allow, under certain conditions, exemptions from the prohibition of the carriage of heavy grades of oil in single-hull oil tankers leaving or bound for ports in the EU.

As a result of these IMO exemptions, a single hull oil tanker carrying heavy grade oil, flying  the flag of a Member State could apply IMO exemptions if it operated outside of EU ports or at offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of a Member States .

The purpose of this Regulation, therefore, is to specify that no oil tanker carrying heavy grade oil will be allowed to fly the flag of a Member State unless such tanker is a double-hull tanker. Further, no oil tanker carrying heavy grades of oil, irrespective of its flag, will be allowed to enter or leave ports or offshore terminals or to anchor in areas under the jurisdiction of a Member State unless it is a double hull oil tanker.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 20 May 2007.