In the last 20 years the shipping industry has seen dramatic and significant legislation worldwide which has impacted vessel design and operations in aspects such as safety, environment, logistics and the economics of operation. This legislation is developed by many sources such as the International Maritime Organization, Port State Controls under the jurisdiction of Governments or Flag States, Classification Societies and Ship Charterers’ and is added to by the many industry bodies issuing guidelines for operation and safety. This legislative process in oil tanker operation has accelerated over the past five years primarily as a consequence of the ‘Exxon Valdez’ incident and has focused the attention of the public on the oil tanker industry.
The operation of oil tankers between the early 1970’s to the present day has evolved dramatically both in safety considerations and environmental safeguards through International Conventions such as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the Marine Pollution Convention (MARPOL). The evolution has impacted major design aspects, operational changes and an increased safety and environmental awareness both onboard the vessel and in the shore based offices.
In addition to the issues relating to design legislation compliance, the industry has now focused attention on operational legislation through compliance with the International Safety Management Code (ISM).
An introduction is given to the history of vessel environmental regulatory matters leading up to the last 25-year period. This outlines the major impacts on the evolution of the changes from the late 19th Century to the main Regulations that have impacted over the recent past before going on to the main body of the paper and the major Legislation impacting vessel design and operation.
