[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: <a href="http://www.starsoftware.com/
uscgnmc/nmc/">http://www.starsoftware.com/
uscgnmc/nmc/</a>.

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