California marine oil terminals are preparing to audit their facilities in compliance with a February upgrade to the state's building code. The process, which must be completed within two years, is expected to cost some $300 million to improve seismic resistance and modernize the terminals. A recent incident at Chevron Long Wharf in Richmond highlighted the need for upgrading when forces induced by a passing vessel pulled a moored vessel off the wharf. Both vessels were about the same size, at 45,000 dead weight tonnage. The wharf was built in the 1940s to accommodate vessels of 5,000 to 10,000 DWT. The average age of California's marine oil terminals is over 50 years.
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