Single-hulled vessels out by April 2008

Companies transporting oil products are mandated to convert their single-hulled vessels to double hulls by April 23 next year or face sanctions.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), in adherence to International Maritime Organization’s oil pollution convention, released an order early this year, imposing a deadline on all fuel oil-carrying ships plying Philippine seas to have double hulls.

Marina said the move was in line with the government’s efforts to protect the country’s rich and diverse marine ecosystem, which has fallen victim to oil spills in the past years.

Last year’s Guimaras oil spill, said to be the major maritime disaster to hit the country, and similar sea tragedies in the past strengthened the resolve of the government to implement stringent, radical and urgent measures to protect Philippine waters.

Single-hulled vessels, industry players recognize, are more vulnerable to damage.  Any puncture caused by grounding or collision could lead to oil spills that cause enormous, possibly irreversible, damage to marine life.

In its order, Marina said violators face a daily fine of P50,000, plus a two-month suspension. For repeated offenses, operators may lose their licenses and their vessels delisted from the Philippine registry.

Amid its order, Marina has lauded Petrolift Inc., one of the largest oil and gas tankering and bulk logistics firms in the country, for taking up the challenge right away during the recent commissioning of Pilipinas Shell’s brand new double-hulled tanker, M/T Petro Celine.

The vessel is the second double-hulled tanker chartered by Pilipinas Shell from Petrolift.

Petrolift is also set to launch its fourth double-hulled tanker, a retrofitted single-hulled vessel, before the year ends.