Financial Responsibility

Alaska Increases COFR Levels

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation issued New Financial Responsibility Dollar Amounts for oil spills. The increased levels for which owners and operators of vessels operating in Alaska waters must provide evidence of financial responsibility to obtain COFRs come into effect on October 27, 2002. The levels have been increased by 33.4% over the prior level. Source: HK Law

MARAD – DWP licensing workshop

he Maritime Administration (MARAD) will conduct a Deepwater Port Licensing Workshop in Washington, DC on September 10.  Topics of discussion will include facility security, the role of Adjacent Coastal States, and financial responsibility requirements.

WQIS Prepared for COFR Limit Increase

On July 11, 2006 the President signed into law Title VI of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006, which increased the limits of liability for vessels under OPA 90. It also split the tank vessel category into single and double hulls with single hulls having higher limits. Those limits went into effect in 2006. However, the requirement for evidence of financial responsibility required to obtain a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) was not increased at that point

Unified Command Formed to Oversee Clean up in Long Beach Harbor

A unified command comprised of representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) and Paramount Petroleum Corp. was formed to coordinate the recovery and clean up of oil that was released into Long Beach Harbor this morning. An estimated 100-gallons of crude oil was spilled into the water at berth C-55 in the Port of Long Beach. Contractors hired by Paramount Petroleum Corp

FMC Budget Request

The Administration requests $19.5 million for the operation of the Federal Maritime Commission for fiscal year 2005. Approximately $18.4 million was appropriated for FMC operations in fiscal year 2004. The FMC is a five member independent agency responsible for enforcing international shipping rules and regulations involving carriers (container ship operators), shippers (companies owning goods to be transported), and transportation facilitators such as freight forwarders

Insurance Brokers Embrace UK Club Underwriting App

The UK Club has launched its “iPANDI” iPad based app to provide up to date underwriting information for members and their insurance brokers, even when on the move. The iPANDI app downloads underwriting data via the Club’s IT systems and presents it conveniently in both graphic and table formats. The data can be viewed off line, for example on planes or away from the office. Security is maintained by a unique licence key to access member information

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010

On Friday, October 15, President Obama signed into law the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (H.R. 3619).  This is the first such authorization act for the Coast Guard since 2006. The statute is lengthy (128 pages) and addresses a wide variety of maritime issues.  This article will attempt to identify those provisions expected to have the most impact or of the most interest.  I have grouped these provisions into broad categories, although there is some natural overlap.

Bollinger Announces Promotions

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., has promoted and/or assigned new responsibilities to the following members of its management team in order to meet the demands of increased business, new products, expanded services and new technologies according to Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, chairman and CEO of the Lockport, La., headquartered shipbuilding and repair company. Mike Ellis has been promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of the company

Oil Spill Cleanup Secondary to Fiscal Matters?

In November 1997, Japanese refrigerator ship Kuroshima went aground at Summer Bay near Alaska's Dutch Harbor in heavy weather. A local USCG team was able to rescue only 16 of the ship's 18 crewmembers. Two perished when heavy seas broke over the ship's bows as it was attempting to reset anchors. The vessel was eventually salvaged but USCG investigations have disclosed that it was not a smooth operation. According to the USCG, when immediate efforts to remove the ship from the beach failed

Tidewater Reorganizes Management

Tidewater Inc. announced that, effective immediately, Cliffe F. Laborde, Larry T. Rigdon and Dean E. Taylor have been promoted to the level of Executive Vice President. Each will report directly to William C. O'Malley, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Cliffe F. Laborde will continue as General Counsel of the company. His responsibilities will also include Corporate Administration, Information Technology, Employee Benefits, Insurance and Human Resource Management