Paris MoU finds some tankers threaten environment

Paris MoU finds some tankers threaten environment    Preliminary results from the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Tanker Damage Stability, carried out from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, found 173 tankers, or 16.2 percent of the fleet, threaten the environment due to deficient loading techniques.
   In specific, the survey discovered the vessels (77 oil tankers, 84 chemical tankers and 12 gas tankers) could not demonstrate that they were normally loaded in accordance with the Stability Information Booklet (SIB).
      'This is a significant number of tankers that, during a 'spot check,' could not show compliance with stability requirements and thus may pose a risk to the environment,' said Pat Dolby, coordinator of the CIC. A total of 1,065 tankers (419 oil, 538 chemical and 108 gas tankers) were included in the survey.
   Some tankers in recent years have not been loaded in compliance with International Maritime Organization's damage stability requirements, which means that in the case of a collision or grounding the ship may not survive, resulting in possible pollution or even loss of life, the Paris MoU Committee warned.
   Four tankers were detained as a direct result of the CIC for not complying with damage stability requirements.
   'It may seem that only four detentions is a very small number, considering the number of ships that could not show that they were loaded in compliance with their Stability Information Booklet,' said Richard Schiferli, the Paris MoU Committee's general secretary, in a statement. 'It was agreed, however, that during the CIC, detention was a last resort. Only for cases where the ship was loaded for the forthcoming voyage and could not show damage stability compliance prior to departure, a detention order was issued.'
   Port state control is a check on visiting foreign ships to see that they comply with international rules on safety, pollution prevention and seafarers living and working conditions. The Paris MoU includes 27 countries that have agreed to collectively work together to carry out port state controls.
   At least once a year, Paris MoU inspections focus on a certain area of concern or when new requirements enter into force. In fall 2011, the inspection campaign will be aimed at verifying that ships are in compliance with the requirements for structural safety and load lines.