Skip to main content
Log in

Dynamic economic analysis of marine pollution prevention technologies: An application to double hulls and electronic charts

  • Published:
Environmental and Resource Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Marine pollution associated with shipping accidents has resulted in a Congressional mandate for double hulls on tankers in U.S. waters. In this paper, we formulate a social planner's problem using optimal control theory to examine the relative cost-effectiveness of double hulls and alternative pollution prevention technologies, and the optimal installation strategy for such technologies. The model encompasses the costs and benefits associated with shipping operations, damage to the marine environment, and investment in each technology. A computer simulation of the model is used to evaluate investment strategies for two technological options: double hulls and electronic chart systems. Results indicate that electronic charts may be a far more cost-effective approach to marine pollution control.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alcock, T. M. (1992), ‘“Ecology Tankers” and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990: A History of Efforts to Require Double Hulls in Oil Tankers’,Ecology Law Quarterly 19, 97–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrow, K., R. Solow, P. R. Portney, E. E. Leamer, R. Radner, and H. Schuman (1993), ‘Report of the NOAA Panel on Contingent Valuation’, Jan. 11, NOAA Damage Assessment Center, Rockville, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bockstael, N. E., K. E. McConnell, and I. E. Strand (1989), ‘Measuring the Benefits of Improvements in Water Quality: The Chesapeake Bay’,Marine Resource Economics 6, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, G. M. and H. O. Pollakowski (1977), ‘Economic Valuation of Shoreline’,Review of Economics and Statistics, 272–278,

  • Champness, M. and G. Jenkins (1985),Oil Tanker Databook, Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, M. A. (1986), ‘The Costs and Benefits of Oil Spill Prevention and Enforcement’,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 13, 167–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickins, D. and K. Krajczar (1990), ‘Review of tanker/barge safety’, Report prepared for States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force. DF Dickins Associates Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunford, R. (1992), ‘Natural Resource Damages from Oil Spills’, in T. H. Tietenberg (ed.),Innovation in Environmental Policy, England: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Hants.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodstein, E. (1992), ‘Saturday Effects in Tanker Oil Spills’,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 23(3), 276–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonin, I. M. and R. D. Crowell (1992), ‘United States Coast Guard Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) Field Trials: Preliminary Results’, Paper presented at ECDIS '92 Conference, Baltimore, MD, Feb. 28–29. Groton, CT: U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigalunas, T. A., J. J. Opaluch, D. French, and M. Reed (1988), ‘Measuring Damages to Marine Natural Resources from Pollution Incidents under CERCLA: Application of an Integrated Ocean System/Economic Model’,Marine Resource Economics 5, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigalunas, T. A. and J. J. Opaluch (1990), ‘The Environment’, in R. S. Farrowet al. (eds.),Managing the Outer Continental Shelf Lands: Oceans of Controversy, Taylor and Francis, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, G. W. (1992), ‘Valuing Public Goods with the Contingent Valuation Method: A Critique of Kahneman and Knetsch’,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 23(3), 248–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartl, R. F. (1992), ‘Optimal Acquisition of Pollution Control Equipment Under Uncertainty’,Management Science 38(5), 609–622.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschman, A. O. (1991),The Rhetoric of Reaction, Harvard University Press.

  • Hopkins, T. D. (1992), ‘Oil Spill Reduction and Costs of Ship Design Regulation’,Contemporary Policy Issues 10, 59–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D. and J. L. Knetsch (1992a), ‘Valuing Public Goods: The Purchase of Moral Satisfaction’,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 22(1), 57–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D. and J. L. Knetsch (1992b), ‘Contingent Valuation and the Value of Public Goods: Reply’,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 22(1), 90–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaoru, Y. (1990), ‘Key Problems in the Management of Sports Fisheries’,Ocean Development and International Law 21, 317–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kite-Powell, H. (1992), ‘Rationale, Processes, and Effects of Technological Standards in Marine Electronics’, Ph.D. Dissertation, MIT Ocean Systems Management Program.

  • National Research Council (NRC) (1991),Tanker Spills: Prevention by Design, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Opaluch, J. J. (1984), ‘The Use of Liability Rules in Controlling Hazardous Waste Accidents: Theory and Practice,’Northeast Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 13(2), 210–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Opaluch, J. J. and T. A. Grigalunas (1984), ‘Controlling Stochastic Pollution Events through Liability Rules: Some Evidence from OCS Leasing’,The Rand Journal of Economics 51(1), 142–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, G. R. and Y. Wu (1991), ‘The Opportunity Cost of Coastal Land-Use Controls: An Empirical Analysis’,Land Economics 67(3), 308–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrow, C. (1984),Normal Accidents: Living with High-Risk Technology, Basic Books.

  • Pindyck, R. S. (1991), ‘Irreversibility, Uncertainty, and Investment’,Journal of Economic Literature 29(3), 1110–1148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robison, L. J. and P. J. Barry (1987),The Competitive Firm's Response to Risk, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samples, K. C., J. A. Dixon, and M. M. Gowen (1986), ‘Information Disclosure and Endangered Species Valuation’,Land Economics 62(3), 306–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, V. K. (1992), ‘Arbitrary Values, Good Causes, and Premature Verdicts,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 22(1), 71–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietenberg, T. H. (1992),Innovation in Environmental Policy, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Hants, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viscusi, W. K. (1988), ‘Irreversible Environmental Investments with Uncertain Benefit Levels’,Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 15, 147–157.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jin, D., Kite-Powell, H.L. & Broadus, J.M. Dynamic economic analysis of marine pollution prevention technologies: An application to double hulls and electronic charts. Environ Resource Econ 4, 555–580 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693046

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693046

Key words

Navigation