Maritime Industry: As U.S. Single-Hull Oil Vessels Are Eliminated, Few Double-Hull Vessels May Replace Them
RCED-00-80
Published: Apr 28, 2000. Publicly Released: May 10, 2000.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the process for phasing out single-hull oil vessels and replacing them with double-hull vessels, focusing on: (1) how the Coast Guard implemented the Oil Pollution Act's phase-out requirements for U.S.-built single-hull vessels larger than 5,000 gross tons; (2) the extent to which owners have received extensions or waivers that extend the phase-out deadlines for their single-hull vessels; and (3) the extent to which owners are replacing or planning to replace or convert their single-hull vessels, and what effect their plans would have on the ability to provide sufficient oil-carrying shipping capacity in the future.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Transportation | To determine whether sufficient shipping capacity exists to meet domestic oil needs, the Secretary of Transportation should direct the Administrator, Maritime Administration, to regularly assess the progress being made to replace single-hull vessels with double-hull vessels and to report the results of these assessments to the relevant House and Senate committees of jurisdiction. |
In August 2001, the Maritime Administration completed its first annual assessment of the sufficiency of shipping capacity to meet domestic oil needs, as single-hull vessels are being replaced by double-hull vessels, and a report on the assessment results has been prepared for the relevant House and Senate committees of jurisdiction. This report will be available for general distribution by the end of September 2001.
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Environmental monitoringEnvironmental policiesMarine transportationMaritime lawOil pollutionPetroleum industryPollution controlSafety standardsTankers (Vessels)WaiversWatercraft