BAN ON FOREIGN TANKERS
LOK SABHA
The Government have
decided to restrict the entry of single hull foreign oil tankers,
which were older than 25 years, into the Indian waters from 1st
September, 2003. A circular specifying the following detailed
guidelines, to be adhered to by the oil tanker charters and oil
terminal operators while in-chartering of foreign flag oil tankers,
had been issued on 11th June, 2003 by the Directorate
General of Shipping, Mumbai: -
i. Crude oil carriers
with SBT/PL below 25 years of age
ii. All product tankers
with SBT/PL below 25 years of age
iii. Chemical tankers below
25 years of age
iv. Gas tankers to
fully comply with GC/IGC Code below
30 years of age
v. All tankers
must be classed with major IACS Society or the Indian Register
of Shipping.
vi. All tanker
above 20 years must have at least CAP 2 rating (for hull,
machinery and cargo equipment) from IACS.
vii. Tanker charters
and Oil Terminals shall exercise due diligence in ensuring
the quality of tankers in-chartered.
The in chartering
of sub-standard oil tankers from other countries especially from
European countries, where most of the single hull oil tankers
above 25 years have been banned, for operating in Indian waters,
had caused a potential threat to the marine environment from oil
pollution. Therefore, with a view to prevent any possible hazards
to the marine environment, the Maritime Administration has been
compelled to issue these guidelines as a precautionary measure.
Owing to amendments to MARPOL 73/78 Convention (Regulation 13
G) as approved by the International Maritime Organisation and
the recent measures imposed by the European Union countries, world’s
most single hull tankers of 20,000 Deadweight (DWT) were to be
phased out from 2003 onwards depending upon their age.
The above information
was given by Shri Dilipkumar Mansukhlal Gandhi, Minister of State
in the Ministry of Shipping in a written reply to the question
of Shri Sadashivrao Dadoba Mandlik and Shri C.N. Singh in Lok
Sabha today.
