Oil Pollution

Singapore –Bunkers Convention

The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular reminding the maritime community that the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention) comes into force on 21 November 2008.  As of that date, ships having a gross tonnage greater than 1000 may only enter the port of Singapore if they carry on board a Bunker Convention Certificate (BCC) to attest that insurance or other financial security to cover liability for bunker oil pollution damage is in place.  Note that oil tankers having a gross tonnage of greater than 1000, either carrying oil in bulk as cargo or with oil residues on board need not carry a BCC since they are already covered by the Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 (CLC Convention).  Port Marine Circular No. 21 of 2008 (11/18/08). (Source: Holland & Knight)

MMS and USCH Sign Oil & Gas Agreement

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the USCG specifying which agency will be responsible for certain aspects of oil and natural gas exploration, development, production, and transportation activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The MOU identifies 27 areas of responsibilities for both agencies. For example, MMS will be responsible for most drilling and production matters, pipeline operations

Coast Guard Announces Interim Rule

The U.S. Coast Guard has published an interim rule that adjusts limits of liability for vessels and deepwater ports under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. The interim rule, effective July 31, 2009, increases the current OPA 90 limits of liability for vessels and deepwater ports to reflect significant increases in the Consumer Price Index since the limits were amended by the Delaware River Protection Act of 2006. The rule also increases the current OPA 90 limit of liability for the Louisiana

Company Gets $37m Penalty for Oil Record Book Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice said that a U.S. shipping company agreed to plead guilty to deliberate oil pollution and presenting fraudulent oil record books to the U.S. Coast Guard. The company agreed to pay a $37m penalty, consisting of a $27.8m criminal fine and a $9.2 million community service payment. Additionally, the company will be on probation for three years, during which time it will comply with a court-imposed environmental compliance program.

McMillen Joins T&T Bisso

The T&T Bisso Response Network announced the addition of DeeAnn McMillen to its Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) management team. McMillen has 19 years of experience assisting clients with regulatory compliance. She has spent the previous nine years focusing on vessel emergency response services, OPA 90 and state regulatory compliance. (www.ttbisso.com)

Bunker Convention to Enter Force in '08

Pollution damage from fuel oil carried on ships will be covered in 2008 with entry into force of international bunkers liability and compensation convention The last significant gap in the international regime for compensating victims of oil spills from ships is set to be closed, with the entry into force on 21 November 2008 of an international treaty covering liability and compensation for pollution damage caused by spills of oil, when carried as fuel in ships' bunkers

Ship Engineers Sentenced for False Statements

Thomas L. Sansonetti, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Paula D. Silsby, United States Attorney for the District of Maine, announced today that two chief engineers of a freighter ship were each sentenced yesterday to two years of probation and a fine of $3000 for their roles in concealing the overboard ocean dumping of waste oil from the M/V Kent Navigator through false log books and statements designed to deceive the U

Maritrans "Taking" Claim Denied by Court

On September 9, 2003, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected Maritrans' claim that the double hull requirement of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 constituted a "taking" of its single hull barges under the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Court concluded that, because Congress permitted Maritrans' vessels to operate for several years before requiring their removal from service, Maritrans was able to recoup part of its investment in the vessels; and therefore no taking

Arctic Council Sign Oil Spill Agreement

At their recent meeting the circumpolar states of the Arctic Council have agreed to tackle oil spill disasters as a team. The Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic—the Council’s second ever binding agreement—was signed by all eight Arctic ministers, reports the Barents Observer. In the event of an oil spill anywhere in the ecologically sensitive Arctic region

BP to Donate Revenue from Well Leak

BP announced that it will donate the net revenue from oil recovered from the MC252 spill to create a new wildlife fund to create, restore, improve and protect wildlife habitat along the coastline of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala., and Fla.  The creation of this fund is over and above BP’s obligations under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.  BP’s net revenue from the sale of oil recovered from skimming operations and the well containment systems will be deposited into this