‘One of the big challenges facing the tanker industry today is to follow the client’s requirements as to quality,’ says captain Claus Thornberg, managing director of Tschudi & Eitzen Ship Management A/S in Denmark. ‘The oil majors are our clients. They will suffer tremendously if a catastrophe should take place involving their cargo.’

New restrictions are entering the safety arena, such as the Condition Assessment Scheme (CAS) and Programme (CAP), phasing out single-hull tankers, ballast water exchange discussions and the LAN (Lloyds, ABS and DNV) initiatives.

What about the CAP requirements?
Those not willing to follow the oil majors requirements are in the second division. Our clients want to make sure the ships are inspected and approved before loading takes place, and the only way to do it is to make their own rules. By introducing CAS, more responsibilities have been transferred to the class societies, which we think is important. Now class acts as our assessor, which will improve the cooperation between industry and class.

Does phasing out single-hull tankers improve safety?
The shipping industry asks the same question. Experience shows that tankers are normally damaged to an extent beyond the protection of the double hull. In addition, corrosion will double as the surface of water ballast tanks has doubled which, in turn, will increase maintenance costs. However, from an environmental and public point of view, it is understandable that stricter rules had to be introduced. The requirements are in place. We are all in the same boat, so we just have to cope with it.

Disposing of ballast water does it cause any problems?
We admit that the environmental consequences of water being transported to new continents may cause problems. The problem is that disposing of ballast water has to take place in deep water. The vessel might face stability and strength problems if the weather is bad. For new vessels it is not a problem, but it might cause stress problems for older tankers.

LAN initiatives
We welcome the LAN initiatives. This is the super-league, which it will be commercially important to be a part of, especially for the tanker industry. Now that a fragmentation has taken place in IACS, the oil majors do not need to come up with stricter requirements, as LAN has already started on the road with the new initiatives.