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ing. The ship is scheduled to start drilling operations by the end of 1998 or early 1999. IMO Defers Decision On Double Hull Tankers Tanker owners received some breathing room when it was announced last week that an inter- national plan to fast-track a double hull mandate would be tabled for a later date. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed on Sept. 22, to defer a decision on speeding up the replacement of single hull tankers by double hull vessels. IMO said the issue may be dis- cussed further when the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee meets again next March. Japan recently has become espe- cially concerned about the dangers Our new DP Systems are based on experience from more than 500 DP Systems installed worldwide. The new systems include: • All control modes: Joystick, heading control, semi-auto and auto positioning • Selectable rotation point • Model control (dead rekoning) •Autopilot control • Course tracking control Kongsberg Simrad INC • 10801 HAMMERLY, SUITE 100, HOUSTON TX 77043-1923, USA • Telephone: 1 713 984 2760 • Tblefax: 1 713 984 8011 Kongsberg Simrad INC • P.O. Box 1749, 1225 STONE DRIVE, SAN MARCOS CA 92069, USA • Itelephone: 1619 4712223 • Telefax: 1619 4711121 KONGSBERG SIMRAD Circle 384 on Reader Service Card of oil pollution and has called on governments to offer financial incentives to encourage shipown- ers to scrap single hull tankers after the single hull very large crude carrier Diamond Grace spilt some 1,300 tons of crude into Tokyo Bay in July. Under regulations in force since 1994, single hull tankers have to be scrapped when they are 30 years old and face cargo load restrictions when they reach the age of 25. Norway Reviews Terms For Oil Exploration Licenses Norway is reviewing procedures for awarding licenses for oil and gas exploration on the Norwegian continental shelf, the Oil and Energy Ministry. The ministry is assessing four options for the changes including group applications and an auction- ing system, a spokesperson at the ministry reported. The NCS is divided into the mature North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, which is gradually opening up, and the Barents Sea, which is completely undeveloped despite several minor and medium-sized gas discoveries. The ministry was also consider- ing a licensing policy for the North Sea and for areas where there were prospects adjacent to produc- ing fields and infrastructure, such as in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea. Norway adjusted licensing terms for an extra licensing round earlier this year, known as the Barents Sea Project, in order to renew interest in an area that has failed to produce any major results despite extensive exploration since 1980. In 1994 the government announced a package of proposals aimed at boosting activity and investment in Norwegian waters. OT Africa Appoints First Ivory Coast Manager West African shipping specialist OT Africa Line (Otal) said it has appointed a line manager to its agency office in Abidjan, Ivory Coast for the first time. Otal said the move reflected increasing trade to the region which has made Ivory Coast a 108 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
