EU acts on single hulled tankers

European Union Ministers decided on 6 December 2002 to accelerate the phasing out of single-hulled tankers from European waters. Such tankers are already scheduled to be banned by 2015 but in the wake of the sinking of the Prestige in November 2002 and loss of oil from its tanks, the European Commission is to propose banning all such tankers from 2010 and banning all tankers that are more than 23 years old.