BP TO REQUIRE TANKERS TO HIKE COVERAGE

Another major oil company will require chartered tankers to carry $700 million in pollution insurance. BP Shipping says the optional $200 million coverage above the new $500 million pollution insurance available through protection and indemnity groups must be in force when a tanker is working for the company. Shell International Marine earlier told tanker owners the added coverage is required when working for Shell (OGJ, Mar. 5, p. 30).

March 12, 1990

Another major oil company will require chartered tankers to carry $700 million in pollution insurance.

BP Shipping says the optional $200 million coverage above the new $500 million pollution insurance available through protection and indemnity groups must be in force when a tanker is working for the company.

Shell International Marine earlier told tanker owners the added coverage is required when working for Shell (OGJ, Mar. 5, p. 30).

DOUBLE BOTTOMS

Meantime, support for the concept of double bottomed hulls for tankers has come from the Finnish government in a submission to the International Maritime Organization's marine environment protection committee. The committee is working on a draft agreement on oil pollution preparedness/response.

Studies by a Finnish government group show groundings are the most frequent cause of oil spills in shallow waters of the Baltic Sea. And double bottoms could have helped prevent spills.

Attention was focused on the subject by the grounding of the Soviet tanker Antonio Gamsci 3 years ago, when more than 40,000 bbl of crude spilled into Finnish waters.