[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18457-18458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10256]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 95-089]
Interim Report on Tank Vessel Design, Construction, and Operation
Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of interim report; request for public
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of an interim
report concerning the impact of the provisions of the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990 (OPA 90) relating to tank vessel design, construction, and
operation on the safety of the marine environment and the economic
viability and operational makeup of the maritime oil transportation
industry. The interim report was prepared by a committee under the
National Research Council and describes the committee's work to date
and the availability of data. In addition, the committee is seeking
comments and additional information on certain issues to assist it in
preparing a final report, required by OPA 90, for submission by the
Coast Guard to Congress.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than May 30, 1996. In order
to provide adequate time to review the interim report, it is
recommended that requests for copies of the report be made on or before
May 10, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Marine Board, National
Research Council, 2101 Constitution Avenue, HA 250, Washington, DC
20418, ATTN: Mr. Donald Perkins. A copy of the interim report may be
requested by writing Commandant (G-MES), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, by calling (202)
267-1044 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays, or by facsimile at (202) 267-4624. The report is
available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.starsoftware.com/
uscgnmc/nmc/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Jack Klingel, Standards Evaluation and Development Division (G-
MES), (202) 267-1044, or Mr. Jaideep Sirkar, Design and Engineering
Standards Division (G-MMS-2), (202) 267-6925, U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the Secretary of
Transportation (Coast Guard) is required (1) To assess the impact of
the provisions of OPA 90 relating to double hulls for tank vessels on
the safety of the marine environment and the economic viability and
operational makeup of the maritime oil transportation industry and (2)
to report the results of its assessment to Congress, with
recommendations for legislative or other action (OPA 90, Sec.
4115(e)(2) (B) and (C); Note to 46 U.S.C. 3703a). To assist it in
preparing the report, the Coast Guard requested advice in preparing
this report from the National Research Council. Accordingly, the Marine
Board of the National Research Council established the ``Committee on
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (section 4115) Implementation Review'' (the
Committee). The Committee will assess the impact of the double hull and
related provisions of OPA 90 on (1) The safety of the marine
environment, (2) the economic viability of the maritime oil
transportation industry, (3) the operational makeup of the maritime oil
transportation industry, and (4) the influence of international
conventions on tank vessel design and operational activities. In this
regard, the Committee has undertaken a methodical data gathering
process, which includes input from written surveys, industry
representatives and databases, and various Federal agencies involved in
the promulgation of regulations. This notice of availability of the
interim report and request for comments is one element within this data
gathering process. While the Committee has compiled significant amounts
of data and information and analysis, an independent solicitation of
public comment over and above the public comment processes for the
related Coast Guard regulatory projects may add significant value to
the deliberations of the Committee.
With some exceptions, section 4115 of OPA 90 requires that oil tank
vessels operating on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States have double hulls. It also provides for a 25-year phase-in
period under certain circumstances.
Related Rulemakings
The Coast Guard has had several rulemaking projects concerning the
design, construction, and operation of tank vessels under section 4115
of OPA 90. Comments submitted to the Coast Guard under these
rulemakings have been made available to the Committee and need not be
re-submitted in response to this request for comments.
Questions
The Coast Guard requests comments on the interim report and further
information on the issues addressed in the report. The Committee has
prepared, and is seeking answers to, the following questions:
1. Has the quality of the tanker fleet serving U.S. ports changed
as a result of the passage of OPA 90? Can you attribute these changes
to section 4115 of OPA 90?
2. What is the anticipated impact resulting from MARPOL 73/78,
Annex I, Regulations 13F and 13G, on ship safety and the reduction of
pollution into the marine environment?
3. What has been the impact of increased port state control
activities designed to improve ship safety and reduce pollution into
the marine environment?
4. What is the anticipated impact of enhanced survey requirements
of MARPOL 73/78, Annex I, Regulation 13G, on ship safety and the
reduction of pollution into the marine environment?
5. What information can you provide that indicates double hull
vessels have affected marine safety and reduced pollution into the
marine environment?
[[Page 18458]]
6. Have changes in vetting and other management practices been
instituted since the passage of OPA 90? Have these changes been made as
a direct result of section 4115 of OPA 90? What impact have these
changes had on ship safety and the reduction of pollution into the
marine environment?
7. What is your experience with the operational safety of double
hull tank vessels in regard to stability during loading and discharge,
safe access to ballast spaces, ventilation of ballast spaces, salvage,
and other safety issues?
8. What is your inspection and maintenance experience in regard to
corrosion protection and structural performance of double hull tank
vessels?
9. Have you had any structural problems on double hull tank
vessels?
10. What design changes would you suggest in double hull tank
vessels?
11. Based on your experience, what are the advantages and
disadvantages of double hull tank vessels as compared to single hull
tank vessels?
12. Has OPA 90, section 4115, forced the retirement of single hull
tank vessels earlier than desired or expected? If so, how much earlier
and for what specific reason?
13. How do maintenance and operating costs differ between double
hull and single hull tankers? Are higher costs anticipated for
maintaining internal tank coatings? Manning and training requirements?
Insurance? Drydocking and other maintenance and repair costs?
14. To what extent will pre-MARPOL tankers be modified to meet
MARPOL's requirements for protectively located/segregated ballast tanks
in order to gain additional life in the Regulation 13G retirement
schedule?
15. Will MARPOL tankers in the international trade operate for the
full 30 year limit or retire early? If they retire early, how much
earlier?
16. Has the phase-out schedule for single hull tankers in OPA 90
affected the ability of shipping companies to finance replacement
vessels? If so, how?
17. Has a two-tiered market developed in which double hull tank
vessels receive higher freight rates than single hull tank vessels? If
so, what is the difference? If not, will such a two-tiered market
develop in the future?
18. To what extent will existing tank vessels without double hulls
be reconstructed to comply with the double hull requirements of OPA 90
section 4115? At what cost? (Jones Act and international trades.)
19. Coast Guard lightering regulations permit the use of certain
single hull vessels in specified lightering zones within U.S.
territorial waters until 2015, five years beyond the mandated double
hull conversion schedule of OPA 90, section 4115. What is the potential
impact of the lightering regulations on the use of single hull vessels
in U.S. waters?
Dated: April 18, 1996.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director for Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-10256 Filed 4-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
