EGG THAT CRACKS TANKER SAFETY

The Coulombi Egg oil tanker design has been approved by the International Maritime Organization. Unlike double hulls, which are mandatory for tankers sailing in US waters, a tanker based on the Egg design has a number of small tanks containing oil at a lower pressure than the external sea water. This means that if the hull is breached, water flows in rather than oil flowing out. And, since oil floats on water, as the water fills the tank the oil is pushed up through access trunks and is automatically transferred into the ship's empty ballast tanks. The advantages of the Egg design over the double hull design are discussed, however it is unlikely that the design will be accepted in the US as a viable alternative to the double hull.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • The Guardian Online, 7 March 1996, p 4 [1 p, 2 fig]
• Authors:
  • Savvides, N
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Hulls; Tankers
• Old TRIS Terms: Collision resistance
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00727648
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 4 1996 12:00AM