Appendix I Statement of Task
The NRC's Marine Board Committee on Tank Vessel Lightering will conduct a study on oil spill risks from lightering (vessel-to-vessel oil transfer) operations. This study will evaluate current lightering practices and trends and analyze the associated risks. It will make recommendations for appropriate technical and institutional improvements. The study will investigate the incidence and risks of accidents, assess the existing regulatory and management framework and recommend measures that could further reduce oil spill risks. It will take into account the current and proposed international rules and standards.
The spill incidence and risk investigation will consider the vulnerability of lightering operations and the potential for spills under various conditions that are likely to occur. Because some spills associated with lightering operations are caused by human error, these aspects will receive careful examination. The study will also pay particular attention to accident prevention including considerations of operator training, monitoring and inspections.
The committee will first establish the study scope and select the detailed steps to accomplish the tasks. Investigations will be designed to collect data and provide the basis for analyses. Some committee members will visit lightering operations in regions where these practices are conducted to better understand the conditions and the most realistic expectations of any proposed risk reduction measures. The committee will also hold extensive discussions with Coast Guard and other officials who are charged with regulating and managing lightering in local regions. The committee will prepare a final report within twelve months of its first meeting that includes all analyses conducted during the study and presents their final conclusions and recommendations.
The study will be funded by the United States Coast Guard within the Department of Transportation.
