Press Release: Maritime safety: IMO introduces new double-hull requirements at world-wide level to close the gap with new EU safety rules

The European Commission welcomed on 5 December 2003 the decision taken within the framework of the International Maritime Organisation to amend the MARPOL Convention to introduce for the world fleet of oil tankers a similar regime to the new stricter measures in place at EU level. The decision in favour of a world-wide ban, and its implementation as soon as possible, but not later than 5 April 2005, on the carriage of heavy grades of oil in single-hull tankers, as well as the accelerated phasing out of single-hull tankers in general, closes the gap between the international regime and the measures already adopted by the EU.