180 



It is hard for a small group such as ourselves to stretch ourselves 

 thinly enougli to participate as fully as we would like. But he will be 

 there for about a month. We have had law of the sea experts on ou^r 

 ocean dumping delegation, and, of course, in the development of our 

 IMCO position. So we are working very closely together. It is exceed- 

 ingly important. 



Senator Hollings. Tliank you very much. We appreciate your ap- 

 pearance this morning. 



Mr. Train. Tliank you. 



Senator Hollings. Our next witness is Mr. James J. Reynolds, presi- 

 dent of American Institute of Merchant Shipping. 



STATEMENT OF JAMES J. REYNOLDS, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN IN- 

 STITUTE OF MERCHANT SHIPPING; ACCOMPANIED BY REAR 

 ADM. R. Y. EDWARDS, CONSULTANT; AND BARBARA D. BURKE, 

 DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATION 



Mr, Reynolds. Thank you for letting me go ahead of Admiral 

 Benkert. 



I think the best way to reflect the interest of the U.S. tanker people 

 on the bills is to allow me to go through a very brief statement. 



Senator Hollings. Fine. 



Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee, my 

 name is James J. Reynolds. I am president of the American Institute 

 of Merchant Shipping, an organization commonly referred to as 

 AIMS, which is the national trade association for the U.S.-flag steam- 

 ship industry. 



Included among our 34 member companies are most of this nation's 

 major proprietary and independent owners and operators of tanker 

 vessels. AIMS is acknowledged to be the spokesman for the American 

 merchant marine in the area of pollution prevention and environmental 

 protection. 



I appear today to urge prompt and favorable action by this sub- 

 committee on implementing legislation for three important interna- 

 tional agreements : the 1969 amendments to the 1954 Convention for 

 the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, which limit oil dis- 

 charges for vessels ; the 1971 amendments to the same convention, which 

 restrict tank sizes; and the 1969 convention relating to intervention 

 on the high seas in cases of oil pollution casualties. 



The Senate has already given its advice and consent to the ratifica- 

 tion of the 1969 amendments, which would be incorporated into do- 

 mestic law by S. 1067, a measure presently before you. These amend- 

 ments are a logical and needed extension of the amendments adopted 

 in 1962 which set forth certain "prohibited zones" within which dis- 

 charges are completely banned. 



Most steamship operators today are already meeting the standards 

 set forth in the 1969 amendments, which prohibit discharges of oil or 

 oily mixtures from dry cargo ships and tankers except under specific 

 criteria set forth separately for the two categories of vessels. 



Discharges from tankers' cargo spaces of oil or oily mixtures are 

 specifically prohibited unless the following criteria are met : 



