The Erika disaster galvanised all players, including the States that devise and enforce the regulations as well as the companies responsible for supervising compliance, such as ship-owners and classification societies.

The European Commission has also issued a number of directives – Erika I, II and III – which require: the gradual phase-out of all single-hulled vessels by 2010; EC approval of classification societies; tighter criteria for inspections by Member States (and inspection of 100% of vessels); and a list of all refuge ports. Total was in favour of and has implemented these measures, systematically tightening all selection criteria used in vetting charter vessels.

Vessel selection

Regardless of the type of vessel, Total applies strict selection criteria to the ships it charters and ensures that the ship-owners comply fully with:

• regulations laid down by international shipping conventions,
• national regulations and the results of inspections carried out by the flag state, port authorities, certification agencies, etc.,
• recommendations made by industry organisations,
• Total’s Health, Safety, Environment & Quality Charter.
• and the Group’s own safety standards.

Among the industry’s strictest chartering criteria

At Total, all chartered ships are subject to the same selection criteria and inspected by in-house oil or chemicals teams depending on the cargo.

Total’s regulations are among the industry’s strictest and they are regularly reviewed. They include a range of criteria, including age limits on charter vessels. Current petroleum products transportation policies forbid the chartering of ships that fail to meet the following age criteria:

• Age limit for oil tankers and chemicals carriers: 20 years.
• Age limit for tankers carrying heavy fuel oil: 15 years.
• Only double-hulled vessels.

These chartering criteria are reviewed regularly.