Accelerated phase out of single-hulled oil tankers,
condition assessment scheme and carriage of heavy fuel oil

Marine Notice 9/2007
Supersedes Marine Notice 13/2004

The purpose of this Marine Notice is to advise tanker owners, operators and charterers of Australia’s position on the international arrangements regarding:

• the phase-out of single-hulled oil tankers;
• the extended application of the Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS); and
• regulations concerning the carriage of heavy grade oil (HGO) as cargo in single-hulled oil tankers.

Phasing out of single-hulled oil tankers

In December 2003, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to revise the global timetable for the phase-out of single-hulled oil tankers, as prescribed in Annex I of the MARPOL Convention. The timetable will see most single-hulled oil tankers phased out by 2010 or earlier.

Tanker owners, operators and charterers are advised that in accordance with Regulation 20 of Annex I, existing tankers which were delivered prior to 1977 and 1978 were phased out in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Similarly, oil tankers delivered in 1979 and onwards will be phased out in 2007, and so on.

Tanker owners, operators and charterers are:

• encouraged to plan for the eventual phase-out of all single-hulled oil tankers over the next three years; and
• urged to approach the authority that issued the tanker’s International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate for more information, if necessary.

The new phase-out timetable sets 2010 as the principal cut-off date for single-hulled oil tankers, with a strictly limited provision permitting some vessels to continue in service until no later than 2015. In line with continuing efforts to promote ship safety and environmental protection, AMSA has advised IMO that Australia will be strictly adhering to the IMO phase-out timetable. This means most single-hulled tankers will be denied entry to Australian ports or offshore terminals from 2010. Only single-hulled oil tankers with double bottom or double sides which comply with specific provisions in Regulation 20 will be permitted entry until 2015.

Extended application of the Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS)

As an additional precautionary measure, the CAS is applied to all single-hulled oil tankers 15 years or older. The CAS stipulates a stringent, transparent and auditable verification regime for the structural condition of the ship in order to provide assurance that survey standards and procedures have been properly implemented and documented.

Carriage of heavy grade oil in single hulled oil tankers

The IMO has introduced a new regulation – Regulation 21 of Annex I of MARPOL – banning the carriage of heavy grade oil as cargo in single-hulled oil tankers. The regulation specifies that oil tankers of:

• 5,000 tons DWT and above are banned after
  5 April 2005, and
• 600 tons DWT and above, but less than 5,000 tons DWT are banned from 2008 after the anniversary of their delivery date.

There are, however, a number of exemptions available to flag States that can permit the continued operation of vessels that conform to certain technical specifications.

Despite the above, AMSA has advised the IMO that Australia will deny:

• entry into its ports or offshore terminals to all single-hulled oil tankers carrying heavy grade oil as cargo that have been permitted to continue operating under the exemptions mentioned above; and
• ship-to-ship transfers of heavy grade oil in areas under its jurisdiction except when this is necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea.

For the purpose of Regulation 21 ‘heavy grade oil’ means any of the following:

1. crude oils having a density higher than 900 kg/m3 at 15°C;
2. fuel oils having either a density higher than 900 kg/m3 at 15°C or a kinematic viscosity higher than 180 mm2/s at 50°C; and
3. bitumen, tar and their emulsions.

Graham Peachey
Chief Executive Officer
31 May 2007

Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181
CANBERRA ACT 2601

File No: 028236
Internet address for all current Marine Notices: www.amsa.gov.au

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