The Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Agirculture of the Massachussets legislature held a hearing on a bill to require tank barges carrying petroleum products to be equipped with an anchor system, anchor chain and windlass. The bill would also require tank barges to be manned unless the Department of Environmental Protection determines other technical or operational saftey measures provide an equivalent defree of protection.
The bill is similar to legislation introduced - but not enacted - in 1997.