Conoco Domestic Marine Operations - Continuous Improvement.

Business/Energy Editors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2002

Conoco's (NYSE:COC) Domestic Marine Operations (DMO) has passed the rigorous American Bureau of Shipping's International Safety Management (ISM) audit. Conoco is only the second major oil-company to ever have its inland barge operation ISM certified.

"This raises the bar of excellence for the inland barge industry," said Antonio Valdes, president and manager of Conoco Marine. "The DMO organization made a strategic decision to proactively pursue a voluntary certification for the inland fleet."

Conoco's international fleet is required by maritime law to maintain this certification. This is not the first time the company has gone beyond legal requirements to better ensure the safety of crew, cargo and environment. In 1990, Conoco became the first U.S. oil company to voluntarily commit to build only double-hulled tankers. The double-hulled effort was also extended into the DMO fleet. The entire DMO barge fleet has been double-hulled since 1998.

"It is just Conoco's way of doing things," said Karen Stacey, Director Domestic Marine. "Utilizing a quality based management system such as the ISM Code is the right way to run our business. It's just one more step on the road to continuous improvement."

The certification report specifically commended Conoco DMO in several areas where it exceeded typical industry standards, including the DMO near miss reporting system and pilot and new hire training programs.

Conoco is a major integrated energy company active in more than 40 countries.

http://www.conoco.com