The Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) provided that after January 1, 2015, single hull
oil
barges will no longer be permitted to be commissioned; only double hull
barges are to be used. This means that single hull barges will need to be
decommissioned or refurbished to accommodate the new requirements.
The
Purpose behind the New Rules
The primary
motivating factor behind upping the oil barge standards is environmental
safety. Public outrage over the massive Exxon Valdez spill prompted legislation
such as the OPA-90.
Research
shows that double hull barges may reduce negative environmental impact. OPA-90
assumes that double hulls reduce the damage sustained by tankers and barges
that are involved in an accident, and thereby reduce the oil spillage.
On average,
the double hull design cuts the size of oil spills by 20 percent in tank barges
and 62 percent in tanker ship accidents, according to a study published in 2011
in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. The
cost of renovation is substantial for vessel operations, but, for the most
part, “the industry is keen to further improve the safety of tankers,” explains
the study authors.
Options for Retrofitting Barges
About half of
U.S. costal tank barges were still operating with a single hull in 2005, reports
the Ship Structure Committee. These ships will need to be either decommissioned
or refurbished by January 2015. Because replacing a fleet of single hull
tankers is not feasible for every party, many companies are choosing to
retrofit their vessels in order to meet code standards.
As noted by
the Ship Structure Committee, there are
two approaches to renovating barges:
- wrapping a second
hull outside the existing one
(a design by Reinauer Transportation Company [RTC]); and
- plating new cargo
tanks within the existing hull (a
design by Maritrans).
The Ship
Structure Committee reports their findings on the two approaches: “Both RTC and
Maritrans have been satisfied with their approach to double hulling a single
hulled barge. RTC has converted two vessels in this manner, and Maritrans, ten.”
The Ramifications of
Sidestepping Regulations
It’s
essential for vessel operations to adhere to the new rules to avoid costly
ramifications. First, there is legal liability to consider. In an oil spill,
vessel owners can be liable up to $10 million, and if they are guilty of gross
negligence, liability will be unlimited and they will be subject to both civil
and criminal sanctions.
Furthermore, inspectors
will be waiting at ports to ensure that vessels are not being used for
transporting oil after the deadline has passed. After January 1, 2015, if the Coast Guard finds an oil barge or
tanker operating with a single hull, the inspectors have the authority to:
- order the vessel to
cease operation;
- revoke its
certificate; and
- impose a civil
penalty upon the owner or operator.
Staying in Compliance with
Regulations
It’s
essential to stay in compliance with the federal and international regulations
in order to avoid sanctions and penalties. Vessel owners can find helpful
information about the latest happenings in the maritime industry by subscribing
to My Vessel Logs blog.
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