INTERNATIONAL REGULATION OF THE TANKER INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT Viewpoints regarding the effectiveness of international regulations for safety of ships and crews and for pollution prevention cover a broad spectrum. The authors believe that the basic framework for effective and enforceable regulations to control safety and protect the environment already exists in a “family” of IMCO (Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization) conventions, supplemented by voluntary industry programs. Though many individual elements are not yet in force, the nations of the world have before them the opportunity to implement this coordinated set of measures, thereby taking a major step towards achieving the safety and environmental protection which all desire. Alternate, fragmented, nation-by-nation approaches promise to produce only a mosaic of conflicting requirements which could undermine the efficient international flow of oil. It is the authors’ hope to stimulate support for the “family” of IMCO conventions and related industry measures. Description of industry ac...