ABSTRACT
Following the sinking of the oil tanker Erika in December 1999 off the coast of France, the European Commission set out a communication for general strategy on 21 March 20002 on the safety of ‘seaborne oil trade’ and made proposals for consideration by the Council and the European Parliament with a view to tightening up safety measures, so that the recurrence of this type of accident is prevented in the future. The proposals are part of an overhaul of the safety of the seaborne oil trade, being regulated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and incorporate measures: to eliminate manifestly sub-standard ships; to increase inspection of vessels posing risk; to increase information obligations; to improve monitoring; to impose higher standards for inspection organisations; and to phase out single-hull vessels.
