181 



(a) the tanker is proceeding en route ; 



(b) the instantaneous rate of discharge of oil content does not ex- 

 ceed 60 liters per mile ; 



(c) the tanker is more than 50 miles from the nearest land, and 



(d) the total quantity of oil discharge does not exceed one fifteen- 

 thousandth of the total cargo-carrying capacity of the tanker. 



Discharges from machinery space bilges of tankers and all dis- 

 charges arising from any source on vessels other than tankers are per- 

 mitted only when : 



(a) the vessel is proceeding en route; 



(b) the instantaneous rate of discharge of oil content does not ex- 

 ceed 60 liters per mile ; 



(c) the oil content of such discharge is less than 100 parts per mil- 

 lion ; and 



(d) the discharge is made as far as practicable from land. 

 AIMS believes that the 1969 amendments are close to being adopted 



internationally, as provided under the rules of the Intergovernmental 

 Maritime Consultative Organization, which will mean that enforce- 

 ment authority can at that time be exercised against foreign-flag 

 vessels as well as American ships for oil discharges. 



The 1969 amendments have already been adopted by 17 nations, 

 and can be expected to come into force shortly as international law. 

 Applying equally to U.S. and foreign flag vessels, they represent a 

 major step toward the goal of eliminating all intentional discharges, 

 and will lead to a definite, immediate improvement of the ocean's en- 

 vironment. 



S. 1067 is also the vehicle for implementing the 1971 amendments 

 to the 1954 convention. One of these amendments defines the area of 

 the Great Barrier Reef as land, for the purpose of the distance-from- 

 land requirement of the same convention which prohibits any oil dis- 

 charges unless vessels are more than 50 miles away from shore. 



The reef is a 1,250-mile chain of cays and reefs off the Australian 

 coast. It provides a natural haven for marine life and needs the added 

 environmental protection that would result from adoption of this 

 amendment. 



Tlie tank size amendments are designed to limit the amount of oil 

 outflow that could result from a stranding or grounding incident, and 

 thereby minimize damage from accidental oil spills. 



After international acceptance of the tank size amendments, com- 

 pliance is to be assured through a certification process. Each tanker to 

 Avhich the standards apply will be certified by its government and 

 tankers not in compliance will be forbidden to trade. Indeed, such 

 tankers could be denied access to the ports of a nation. Senator Stevens. 

 I believe you asked the question earlier. It is our understanding they 

 could be. 



Senator Steatxs. Of nonsignatory nations ? 



Mr. Reynolds. If the vessel did not have a certification it is meeting 

 tlie requirements of the convention. 



Senator Stevens, There are a couple of sailing vessel type tankers 

 ont in the Pacific islands under our jurisdiction. Modem nations pro- 

 hibit t]iem. but they are going to go somewhere. I think we ought to 

 find out where they are going to go. Where are we Dushing the junk 

 of the ocean ? We are going to close them off, but I think we ought to 



