IMO begins oil tanker talks as EU threatens to go its own way

IMO begins oil tanker talks as EU threatens to go its own way    The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization began a session to discuss oil tanker rules on Monday (July 14), aware that its multilateral role is threatened by a European Union policy to adopt regional regulations on oil tankers.
   William O’Neil, secretary-general of the IMO, urged the meeting’s delegates to ensure their decisions were “realistic, pragmatic and well-balanced so that they will not cause or lead to any negative repercussions.”
   The IMO is considering proposals to amend oil tanker regulations in the MARPOL convention.
   The proposals were brought to IMO following the sinking of the tanker “Prestige” off the coast of Spain.
   Government representatives of the 15 European Union countries have submitted proposals to amend the MARPOL regulations. They call for further acceleration of the phase-out timetable for single-hull tankers, an immediate ban on the carriage of heavy
grades of oil in single-hull tankers and other measures.
   O’Neil asked delegates to avoid rules that would damage the concept of universality in the regulation of shipping. He also disapproves of measures that would discriminate against other regions of the world, have negative repercussions on the supply of oil, or undermine the authority of IMO.