House and Senate conferees working on U.S. oil spill legislation have agreed to require most oil tankers calling at American ports to be equipped with double hulls by 2010.
The compromise requires all new tankers to be built with double hulls and existing tankers to be retrofitted or retired during the next 20 years.
Conferees merged the stricter version that was passed by the House with a milder administration position into a complex schedule that requires existing tankers to be retired or retrofitted on the basis of their age, size, and weight.
The double hull requirement would apply to existing tankers for the period beginning Jan. 1, 1995, at first covering 28 year old, single hull tankers larger than 30,000 gross tons and 40 year old vessels smaller than 30,000 gross tons.
Tankers with double bottoms or sides-but lacking full double hulls-would be allowed to stay in service 5 years longer than single hull tankers of the same size and age.
The double hull requirement would not apply to tankers that transfer oil to smaller tankers more than 60 miles offshore.
Nor would it apply to barges that are operating in inland waters.
The oil industry had urged Congress to defer requirements for double hulls until a government study is completed on the issue.
Conferees are expected to agree on other issues before Congress recesses in August, enabling passage of a compromise bill in September.
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