oil spills.

Esso Division manager Mr. Keith Hollis confirmed the plan that would enable the company to have the boat work alongside its tankers whenever they are in port.

"We've never had an oil spill recovery vessel of our own,'' he said yesterday. "Meyer Agencies always supplies a line boat whenever we bring in our vessels. But we decided we can't depend on that arrangement and to bring in our own boat.'' Mr. Hollis said the Shell Company of Bermuda was also interested in the plan and may participate though no specific arrangements had been concluded. If the company does join in, the new acquisition would become an industry boat.

Government has indicated its support for the oil spill boat and last Friday tabled legislation in the House of Assembly to free it from any customs duties.

All boats with the exception of commercial fishing boats, scientific research boats and Government boats are subject to a 55 percent customs duty.

The legislation, called the Customs Tariff Amendment Bill, would "exempt from customs duty a vessel to be imported into Bermuda for the sole purpose of combating oil spillages.'' Mr. Hollis said the boat was 26-feet long with a catamaran-type hull and outboard engines. The boat has been designed with a wide work platform atop the hull to carry anti-oil spill equipment such as booms, chemical dispersents and an oil skimmer which sucks oil off water surfaces.

The boat will also have a small cabin for use in rough weather.