Impending revisions to MARPOL Annex II effecting the reclassification of chemicals and vegetable oils and fats will bring about changes in the trading possibilities for the chemical and products tanker fleets. INTERTANKO has made a study of these trades and of the availability of tonnage, involving over 1,100 vessels. It concludes that there will be a significant impact on both the product tanker and chemical tanker trades, and that there will be a nominal surplus of about 5.7m deadweight (about 20%) of IMO Type 2/3 tankers from 2007 onwards after the reclassification comes into effect. However it should be borne in mind that whatever the final decision is on cargo reclassification…