Oil giant Exxon Mobil has joined BP in agreeing to use only double hull tankers in the Solent diminishing the possibility of an oil spill. 

The Solent Protection Society has campaigned against single hull tankers over the last two years.  BP have used the safer double hull tankers at their Hamble terminal for some time now, but  Exxon Mobil has only recently confirmed its agreement to use only double hull tankers to ship crude oil in and out of the Solent.

Solent Protection Council Member, Tom Young, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this news from  Exxon. They have confirmed that this year their shipments of crude oil have all been carried out in double hull tankers but,
they still wish to retain their right to use single hull tankers, which is their legal entitlement until 2010. In the unlikely event that they do have to use a single hull tanker, we have requested that they provide an extra escort tug, and await their response to this request.’