173 



Senator Hollings. What about the use of double bottoms in bring- 

 ing down Alaska oil ? Would that be practical to require that? 



INIr. Train. It would be practical. 



I believe the problem there, insofar as requiring a special standard 

 for Alaska oil coming to U.S. ports is concerned, is that we would be 

 setting standards for one j^articular transportation problem, w4ien 

 we feel very strongly that these are problems that should be addressed 

 by international rules whenever possible. 



Senator Hollings. Well, of course, we are trying to set the best 

 example ourselves. Sometimes we have to do just that, act unilaterally, 

 as we did with our ocean dumping bill. 



I know the chairman is thinking that, I think — or some members 

 of the committee — and I just wondered whether it was practical. 



Mr. Train. The practicalities would be something that I think the 

 CG could address more effectively than I. The interrelationship of such 

 unilateral standards to international standards is a pretty complex 

 matter. 



Now, the Ports and Waterways Safety Act does provide, as I re- 

 call, that in the event international agreement on vessel design stand- 

 ards is not reached by 1976 the United States might be in a position 

 or would be directed to set unilaterally design specifications for ships 

 entering our waters. So that this concept is not without some precedent. 



We haven't acted on that yet, as you know. I think at this time our 

 emphasis should very definitely be on trying to achieve international 

 agreement on these standards before we start moving unilaterally, be- 

 cause I think that this is one of the arguments in favor of effective in- 

 ternational agreement. 



Furthermore, a majority of those voting at the Preparatory Com- 

 mittee rejected mandatoiy double bottoms as the prescribed means for 

 achieving segregated ballast capacity and supported very late effec- 

 tive dates for the new tanker construction standards. 



The fifth draft would apply segregated ballast standards to tank- 

 ers for which building contracts are signed on or after January 1, 

 1978, or which are delivered on or after January 1, 1981. 



We feel that these dates violate the intent of the basic resolutions 

 establishing the objective of preventing intentional discharges at least 

 by the end of the decade. In October we will strongly urge that earlier 

 dates be set. 



Before this meeting this morning, Mr. Chairman, I was informed 

 that I was quoted in some publication recently as being uncertain 

 about support of the double bottoms at the IMCO Conference. 



I don't know why that uncertainty would have arisen, but I want to 

 make perfectly clear on the record here today that tlie U.S. position, 

 as well as my own personally, is strongly in favor of double bottoms 

 to be required by international convention. 



Senator Hollings. Very good. 



Mr. Train. Although oil is likely to attract the most attention, 

 IMCO has recognized other growing problems caused by vessel pollu- 

 tion of the marine environment. The October conference will also 

 focus on performance and sliip construction standards to prevent pol- 

 lution from other hazardous substances, and from ship-generated sew- 

 age and garbage. 



