Double-Hull Tanker Legislation

Assesses the impact of the double hull and related provisions of OPA 90 on ship safety, protection of the marine environment, and the economic viability and operational makeup of the maritime oil transportation industry. This book is useful for operators of domestic and international tank vessel fleets, and shipyard operators among others.

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The passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) by Congress and subsequent modifications of international maritime regulations resulted in a far-reaching change in the design of tank vessels. Double-hull rather than single-hull tankers are now the industry standard, and nearly all ships in the world maritime oil transportation fleet are expected to have double hulls by about 2020.


This book assesses the impact of the double hull and related provisions of OPA 90 on ship safety, protection of the marine environment, and the economic viability and operational makeup of the maritime oil transportation industry. The influence of international conventions on tank vessel design and operation is addressed. Owners and operators of domestic and international tank vessel fleets, shipyard operators, marine architects, classification societies, environmentalists, and state and federal regulators will find this book useful.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Ship Safety and Protection of the Marine Environment
3 Operational Makeup of the Maritime Oil Transportation Industry
4 Economic Impact of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 on the International Tanker Fleet
5 Domestic (Jones Act) Tanker Trade
6 Design, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Double-Hall Vessels
7 Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Appendix I
Appendix J
Appendix K
Appendix L
Appendix M
Acronyms and Glossary