Nontank VRP Regs
The clock is ticking toward the deadline to submit to the U.S. Coast Guard an oil spill response plan that meets the requirements of the NTVRP regulation. The long-awaited nontank vessel response plan (NTVRP) rulemaking was published on September 30, 2013 and came into effect on October 30, 2013. Neither of these are significant dates for the owners, operators, and masters of nontank vessels operating on the navigable waters of the United States. The truly significant date is January 30, 2014.
Bill to Authorize Appropriations for USCG
Senator Snowe (R-ME) introduced the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2005 (S. 1280) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for the United States Coast Guard, and for other purposes. Among its numerous provisions, this bill, if enacted into law, would: (1) authorize a pilot program for a long-range vessel tracking system; (2) require development of a process for determining whether and under what circumstances damaged vessels may seek a place of refuge in U.S. waters; (3) accelerate efforts at the IMO to enhance flag state oversight and enforcement IMO agreements; and (4) make the oil spill response plan requirement applicable to nontank vessels of at least 400 gross tons ITC or…
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006
President Bush has signed into law the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (H.R. 889). (7) Application of the oil spill response plan requirement to nontank vessels has been clarified. Note: Ship owners and operators and insurers should pay particular attention to the increase in the limits of liability. While the requirements relating to US Certificates of Financial Responsibility (COFRs) will not change until the regulations are amended, the maximum potential liability for an oil spill (even if the limits of liability are not broken) have been increased, effective immediately. Those owners and operators who were only minimally insured should consider seeking increases in coverage.
Conference Report for Maritime Transportation Act Released
The Conference Report for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 (H.R. 889) has been posted on the Internet. As the name implies, this report has been agreed to by members of the joint House-Senate Conference Committee and is almost certainly the version of the bill that will be adopted by the House of Representatives and the Senate when they return from the current recess. (8) Application of the oil spill response plan requirement to nontank vessels has been clarified.
