Digital Extra

The regulations require that barge operators, during times of poor visibility on the seas, use double-hulled barges or single-hull barges accompanied by an additional escort tugboat. By 2001, double hulls or escorts would be required in all weather. Crews and workable anchors would be required on all barges.

Part of the legislation also establishes a 5-cent-per-barrel tax on petroleum products entering the state, with the proceeds set aside for oil- spill response and relief.

The bills are the General Assembly's response to the North Cape disaster Jan. 19. The North Cape was an unmanned, single-hulled vessel with an inoperable anchor that hit Moonstone Beach and spilled more than 800,000 gallons of oil. The tugboat pulling the barge was disabled in a storm, forcing the crew to abandon ship.

The accident, the second major oil spill in Rhode Island within eight years, spurred legislative hearings and Senate bills designed to prevent a similar accident. The measures have gained strong support from legislators.

The tugboat industry - which has long enjoyed little Coast Guard regulation - has fought the rules, to no avail. House passage yesterday drew another warning from industry that Rhode Island's fuel costs will rise and deliveries could be disrupted.

"Today's vote is a tremendously disappointing triumph of politics over sound policy," said Jack Morgan, spokesman for the national tugboat trade group, American Waterways Operators.

"If signed by Governor Almond, all this legislation will do is disrupt the delivery of gas and fuel oil to Rhode Island, raise consumer prices, while providing no environmental benefits."

Several House members sounded similar warnings, with Rep. Paul Moura, D- Providence, raising the spector of thousands of tanker trucks rumbling across Rhode Island highways to take the place of barges. Moura called it "knee-jerk legislation."

But the bill passed 75 to 4 after Majority Leader George Caruolo, D-East Providence, urged his colleages to act to protect Rhode Island's coastline from a similar environmental catastrophe. The measure would not take effect until June 1997, which would delay any financial impact until the following winter.

Speaking of an operable anchor, Caruolo said, "barges owners don't want to put it on, because it costs money." The state needs to take a stand, he said: "It sends a wonderful message to big business that traverse our waters. We mean business."