Environmentalist: An increased number of oil spills and the consequent damage to the environment indicate the need for stricter safety standards for the oil industry  Since the industry refuses to take action, it is the national government that must regulate industry safety standards  In particular, the government has to at least require oil companies to put double hulls on their tankers and to assume financial responsibility for accidents  Industry representative: The industry alone should be responsible for devising safety standards because of its expertise in handling oil and its understanding of the cost entailed  Implementing the double-hull proposal is not currently feasible because it creates new safety issues
Furthermore, the cost would be burdensome to the industry and consumers
The only effective sources of increased stringency in safety standards for oil tankers are action by the industry itself or national government regulation.