Oil tankers now safer, but extra traffic increases risk

Oil tankers now safer, but extra traffic increases risk

Oil tankers now safer, but extra traffic increases risk
Local Finland News In English

The recession has cut demand for oil.

The risks to Finnish waters and surrounding areas posed by oil transport traffic are increasing, even if oil tanker architecture has become more sophisticated. Increased traffic volume has heightened the danger of an oil spill. All oil tankers passing through Finnish ports must be double-hulled. Russian ports demand likewise.

The problems with oil transport were especially prominent in 2002 and 2003, when two Greek tankers became grounded in the Gulf of Finland. Both vessels were single-hulled.

Source: Helsinki Times