Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, what construction requirement must new tankers in U.S. waters meet?

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established critical regulations to minimize the risk of oil spills from tankers and enhance the safety of marine transportation. A fundamental requirement for new tankers operating in U.S. waters is the adoption of double hull construction. This design consists of two layers of hulls: an inner hull that contains the oil cargo and an outer hull that acts as a secondary barrier. This additional layer significantly mitigates the risk of oil spills in the event of hull breaches caused by accidents or collisions, as it provides extra protection against leaks.

Single hull construction, on the other hand, does not offer this level of safety, making it more susceptible to spills. Steel hull construction and aluminum hull construction are specific materials and may not address the essential protective requirements set forth by the Act itself. Therefore, new tankers must comply with the double hull requirement to enhance the safety and environmental protection of U.S. waters effectively.