Brussels, 16/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - As announced in yesterday's bulletin (p 14), the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) approved without debate on Wednesday, the regulation for speeding up the phasing out of single hull petrol tankers entering and leaving Community ports, as well as banning the transport of heavy fuels in this kind of tanker. The regulation will be formally adopted in first reading by either the General Affairs Council on 21 July or the Agriculture Council on 22 July and will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.
Below are the main principles of the regulation amending regulation 414/2002 of 18 February 2002:
Beyond 2010, single hull tankers of more than 5,000 tonnes will be banned from entering, leaving or anchoring in a port or terminal in the sea of a Member State, whatever their flag. This ban will be phased in depending on the category of tanker (age and compliance with MARPOL Convention standards on marine pollution prevention);
The ban on heavy fuel will be apply from the entry into force of the regulation with two possible exemptions: 1) for tankers used exclusively in ports and internal navigation 2 for tankers whose transport capability is less than 5,000 tonnes up to the year 2008;
From 2005, the assessment system for ships will allow possible structural weaknesses to be identified and will be compulsory for single hull tankers that are older than 15;
Single hull tankers entering, leaving or anchoring in a port or terminal in the seas where Member State jurisdiction applies in the Baltic Sea region must be equipped with structure strengthening devices and their navigation propulsion systems for ice must meet the requirements of the Member State concerned when freezing conditions are required.
The regulation also affirms that 1) everything must be done to deal with tankers that are going to be destroyed in a way that respects human health and the environment; 2) the Commission expected to receive a mandate for negotiating the implementation of the provisions of the regulation in the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); 3) third countries (such as candidate countries or neighbouring countries) must be encouraged to stop using single hull tankers; 4) the Commission is expected to present a proposal for new boats to stock their fuels in safe double cylinder tanks.