ERIKA AFTERMATH - AMENDMENTS TO THE MARPOL REGULATION 13G

The latest issue of Lloyd's Register Classification News advises Owners, operators and charterers of single hull tankers of the amendments to the MARPOL convention, Annex I, Regulation 13G, proposed at the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) at its 45th meeting in October 2000. As well as the progressive phase-out of single hull tonnage, the proposals call for pre-MARPOL tankers over 25 years of age and post-MARPOL tankers beyond 2010 to comply with a Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS). The details of what this CAS will comprise remain to be decided, although the principles of the scheme have been defined. The main purpose is to set up a verification system to assess whether the condition of the ship warrants prolonging its service life. IMO requires the scheme to add quality elements to the existing Enhanced Survey Programme in three directions: checks on the physical condition of the vessel, checks on the documentation recording past performance history and possible improvements in survey practices. LR will contribute to IMO inter-sessional discussions to develop proposals for the CAS, which may include the use of Condition Assessment Programme (CAP) procedures. LR will also continue to review the CAP-LR scheme to ensure proper reflection of further IMO recommendations. It is expected that the final regulations will be agreed at MEPC 46 in April 2001, coming into force on January 1, 2003.