(a) whether the Government are aware that the European Union has recently put a ban on ageing ships from entering European waters;
(b) if so, the details in this regard;
(c) the likely impact of such a decision on Indian ships owned by the Shipping Corporation of India; and
(d) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI DILIPKUMAR MANSUKHLAL GANDHI)
(a) & (b) Yes Sir, the Government is aware that the European Union has agreed to an action plan and have set a stringent time table for adoption of new rules to phase out single hull oil tankers in European waters. by 1st July, 2003.
(c) The Shipping Corporation of India has 8 single hull crude oil tankers that are over 23 years of age. 2 of these tankers are on storage duty with the Oil and Natural Gas Commission and British Gas. The other 6 tankers are operating between Persian Gulf and India and on the Indian coasts. Hence, there is no impact of this decision on Shipping Corporation of India’s tanker fleet.
(d) India has already acceded to International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as amended by its Protocol, 1978 (MARPOL 1973/78). Regulation 13 G of the Convention envisages phasing out of world’s most single hull tankers of 500 Gross Registered Tonnage by the year 2015. The Directorate General of Shipping has issued a circular in December, 2002 to all Indian ship owners regarding the applicability of the mandatory Condition Assessment Scheme, to all category 1 vessels continuing to operate after 2005 and all category 2 vessels after 2010 and category 3 vessels after 2015.