L'IMO decide di mettere al bando le vecchie petroliere a scafo singolo, di portata lorda superiore a 20mila tonnellate, nel 2005

Il Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) dell'International Maritime Organization (IMO), che si è riunito a Londra, ha approvato oggi una modifica alla convenzione MARPOL relativa alle petroliere che entrerà in vigore il 1° gennaio 2003 e che prevede la rapida messa al bando delle unità a scafo singolo.

Il comitato ha infatti deciso di eliminare nel 2005 le vecchie petroliere che abbiano una portata lorda superiore a 20.000 tonnellate e di consentire la navigazione al più tardi fino al 2021 per le navi più recenti, di tonnellaggio minore e con dispositivi di sicurezza potenziati. Quest'ultima categoria di petroliere dovrebbe consistere in circa un centinaio di navi.

La decisione è meno drastica di quanto inizialmente preannunciato. Il MEPC avrebbe dovuto approvare un piano più restrittivo, che riportiamo di seguito, proposto come ordine del giorno della riunione.

La decisione è stata accolta favorevolmente dai membri dell'Unione Europea, che hanno comunque sollecitato una totale messa al bando delle petroliere a scafo singolo entro e non oltre il 2015, annunciando che a partire da questa data sarà proibito l'accesso nei porti europei a tutte le unità a scafo singolo. Se tutte le petroliere di questo tipo saranno escluse dai porti europei entro il 2015, le unità più vecchie e di maggiore tonnellaggio lo saranno però già nel 2005 o nel 2010.

Nessuna dichiarazione è giunta sinora dal governo italiano, che aveva programmato di estendere a tutti i porti italiani il cosiddetto "decreto Bordon", che vieta l'accesso al porto di Venezia alle petroliere monoscafo. Prevista inizialmente per lo scorso 23 aprile, l'estensione del provvedimento è slittata, ma il ministro dell'Ambiente Willer Bordon ha assicurato la sua prossima applicazione.

Il piano dell'IMO per accelerare l'abolizione delle petroliere a scafo singolo è contenuto nel regolamento 13G dell'Annesso I alla MARPOL 73/78, la convenzione internazionale che tratta dell'inquinamento causato dalle navi.

For discussion at MEPC 46: The exact wording of the proposed new MARPOL regulation 13G concerning the accelerated phase-out of single-hull tankers

DRAFT TEXT OF REVISED REGULATION 13G OF MARPOL ANNEX I

Regulation 13G
Prevention of oil pollution in the event of collision or stranding -
Measures for existing tankers

(1) This regulation shall:

(a)	apply to oil tankers of 5,000 tons deadweight and above, which are contracted, the keels of which are laid, or which are delivered before the dates specified in regulation 13F(1) of this Annex;
(b)	not apply to oil tankers complying with regulation 13F of this Annex, which are contracted, the keels of which are laid, or are delivered before the dates specified in regulation 13F(1) of this Annex; and
(c)	not apply to oil tankers covered by subparagraph (a) above which comply with regulation 13F(3)(a) and (b) or 13F(4) or 13F(5) of this Annex, except that the requirement for minimum distances between the cargo tank boundaries and the ship side and bottom plating need not be met in all respects. In that event, the side protection distances shall not be less than those specified in the International Bulk Chemical Code for type 2 cargo tank location and the bottom protection distances shall comply with regulation 13E(4)(b) of this Annex.

(2) For the purpose of this regulation:

(a)	"Heavy diesel oil" means diesel oil other than those distillates of which more than 50 per cent by volume distils at a temperature not exceeding 340ºC when tested by the method acceptable to the Organization.
(b)	"Fuel oil" means heavy distillates or residues from crude oil or blends of such materials intended for use as a fuel for the production of heat or power of a quality equivalent to the specification acceptable to the Organization.

(3) For the purpose of this regulation, oil tankers are divided into the following categories:

(a)	"Category 1 oil tanker" means an oil tanker of 20,000 tons deadweight and above carrying crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil as cargo, and of 30,000 tons deadweight and above carrying oil other than the above, which does not comply with the requirements for new oil tankers as defined in regulation 1(26) of this Annex;
(b)	"Category 2 oil tanker" means an oil tanker of 20,000 tons deadweight and above carrying crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil as cargo, and of 30,000 tons deadweight and above carrying oil other than the above, which complies with the requirements for new oil tankers as defined in regulation 1(26) of this Annex;
(c)	"Category 3 oil tanker" means an oil tanker of 5,000 tons deadweight and above but less than that specified in subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph.
(d)	An oil tanker subject to the provisions of this regulation shall comply with the requirements of regulation 13F of this Annex in accordance with the schedule as specified in the following table:

Category of oil tanker	Date by which ship shall comply with regulation 13F
	Alternative A	Alternative B
Category 1	1 January 2003 for ships delivered in 1973 or earlier 1 January 2004 for ships delivered in 1974 and 1975 1 January 2005 for ships delivered in 1976 and 1977 1 January 2006 for ships delivered in 1978, 1979 and 1980 1 January 2007 for ships delivered in 1981 or later
Category 2	1 January 2003 for ships delivered in 1977 or earlier 1 January 2004 for ships delivered in 1978 1 January 2005 for ships delivered in 1979 1 January 2006 for ships delivered in 1980 1 January 2007 for ships delivered in 1981 1 January 2008 for ships delivered in 1982 1 January 2009 for ships delivered in 1983 1 January 2010 for ships delivered in 1984 1 January 2011 for ships delivered in 1985
	1 January 2012 for ships delivered in 1986 and 1987 1 January 2013 for ships delivered in 1988 and 1989 1 January 2014 for ships delivered in 1990 and 1991 1 January 2015 for ships delivered in 1992 or later	1 January 2012 for ships delivered in 1986 1 January 2013 for ships delivered in 1987 and 1988 1 January 2014 for ships delivered in 1989 and 1990 1 January 2015 for ships delivered in 1991 and 1992 1 January 2016 for ships delivered in 1993 and 1994 1 January 2017 for ships delivered in 1995 or later
Category 3	1 January 2003 for ships delivered in 1974 or earlier 1 January 2004 for ships delivered in 1975 and 1976 1 January 2005 for ships delivered in 1977 and 1978 1 January 2006 for ships delivered in 1979 and 1980 1 January 2007 for ships delivered in 1981 1 January 2008 for ships delivered in 1982 1 January 2009 for ships delivered in 1983 1 January 2010 for ships delivered in 1984 1 January 2011 for ships delivered in 1985 1 January 2012 for ships delivered in 1986
	1 January 2013 for ships delivered in 1987 and 1988 1 January 2014 for ships delivered in 1989, 1990 and 1991 1 January 2015 for ships delivered in 1992 or later	1 January 2013 for ships delivered in 1987 1 January 2014 for ships delivered in 1988 1 January 2015 for ships delivered in 1989 and 1990 1 January 2016 for ships delivered in 1991, 1992 and 1993 1 January 2017 for ships delivered in 1994 or later

(5) A Category 1 oil tanker of 25 years and over after its date of delivery shall comply with either of the following provisions:

(a)	wing tanks or double bottom spaces, not used for the carriage of oil and meeting the width and height requirements of regulation 13E(4), cover at least 30% of L_t, for the full depth of the ship on each side or at least 30% or the projected bottom shell area within the length L_t, whereL_tis as defined in regulation 13E(2); or
(b)	the tanker operates with hydrostatically balanced loading, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.

(6)

(a)

The Administration may allow continued operation of a Category 1 oil tanker beyond [25 years after its date of delivery][2005], and of a Category 2 oil tanker beyond 2010, subject to compliance with the condition assessment scheme adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee by resolution MEPC … (…), as may be amended, provided that such amendments shall be adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article 16 of the present Convention relating to amendment procedures applicable to an appendix to an Annex.

(b)

The Administration of a State which allows the application of this paragraph to a ship entitled to fly its flag shall forthwith communicate to the Organization for circulation to the Parties to the present Convention particulars thereof, for their information and appropriate action, if any.

Alternative text of paragraph (6) above:

[(6) An oil tanker of [20] years and over after its date of delivery shall be subject to special survey scheme in accordance with resolution A.744(18) as amended, provided that such amendments shall be adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article 16 of the present Convention relating to amendment procedures applicable to an appendix to an Annex.]