Shipbroking sources say that TotalFina is "trying its best" to comply with French government recommendations about how it charters tonnage, but the oil major has cautioned that there are practical considerations the government is unaware of. French transport minister Jean-Claude Gayssot said: "I urge oil firms to cease chartering ships with convenience flags and to start favouring French or European flags." But TotalFina reportedly argues that that could rule out half the world fleet. The government has also recommended that no ships with untraceable owners be used, a factor widely regarded as irrelevant. Finally, the government has said that companies should avoid ships over 15 years old, a policy TotalFina tried hard to comply with anyway.
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