An amendment to the revised MARPOL Annex I include a new regulation 12A on oil fuel tank protection. The regulation apply to all ships delivered on or after 1 August 2010 with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of 600 m3 and above. It includes requirements for the protected location of the fuel tanks and performance standards for accidental oil fuel outflow.

The next generation of containerships is presently being designed at the drawing board in various ship yards. These designs need to take into consideration that fuel tanks have to be isolated from the sea by a cofferdam. Traditionally, fuel has been located in the double bottom tanks and more recently in the wing tanks. The new requirements will reduce the possibility of carrying fuel in these tanks.

Even if some space may be available in the bulkheads between holds, the new requirements will demand more space to be given to fuel. Deep tanks between holds, e.g. below crane foundations in geared ships, seems the best solution. However, this will lengthen the design by several meters. Increasing length is an expensive alternative (more steel is needed to maintain longitudinal strength), so other solutions may surface as the designers work on the future designs.

Some owners are currently looking for slots that will allow delivery before the 1 August 2010 deadline. The question remains whether these ships of old design will be as much favoured by port states around the world as will the new ones in the years to come.