Baltic Sea countries support ban on single hull tankers

Eleven countries bordering the Baltic Sea have reportedly agreed to impose a ban within a year on the carriage of heavy fuel oil in single-hull tankers in the region. In a statement issued following a meeting in Tallinn of the 11-nation council of the Baltic Sea states, the heads of government support a ban on the carriage of heavy grades of oil in single-hull tankers to and from all the ports of the Baltic Sea no later than 5 April 2005.

Established in 1992, the body serves as a forum for cooperation between the countries of the region. Russia, a member of the grouping, had, until recently, opposed such a ban, suggesting that the transition period should last until 2010. However, Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov is alleged to have told a news conference following the one-day summit that Russia would now support the ban.

The Baltic countries concerned are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden.