Decreasing tanker traffic would be an important way to reduce coastal oil pollution, he said.

Turkish officials say it cannot sustain a sharp increase in tanker traffic.

They say this was "probably as a result of decreased tanker traffic" during the war.

As for the tanker traffic, Oslo is looking at other ways of advancing its concerns.

There is also optimism that Iraq will not be able to interfere seriously with tanker traffic.

American officials calculate that the Tengiz oil will double tanker traffic on the strait in coming years.

The Coast Guard today also announced that new restrictions on tanker traffic in the sound were being put into effect.

But Turkish officials strenuously object to such heavy tanker traffic because of the environmental risks.

And it had no effect at all on the tanker traffic between Europe and Haiti.

It is threatened by offshore oil drilling and tanker traffic.