US Non-Tank Vessel Response Plan - 2013 Final Rule - UK Club FAQs
The following FAQs are answered here. Scroll down the page to locate your preferred question/answer.
1. Where can I find a copy of the USCG Final Rule on Non-tank Vessel Response Plan?2. What are non-tank vessels owners required to do under the Final Rule?3. Which vessels are required to have a VRP under the Final Rule?4. Where can I find explanations on the detailed requirements?5. What are the main requirements under the Final Rule on Non-Tank VRP? 6. Who prepares the VRP for non-tank vessels owners?7. Are all non-tank vessels over 400gt required to enter into a funding agreement with a SMFF?8. Which salvors' Funding Agreements comply with International Group guidelines?9. What about non-tank vessels with oil-carrying capacity less than 2,500 barrels but greater than or equal to 250 barrels? 10. Where can I find the texts of the Funding Agreement which have been confirmed to be in conformity with the International Group guidelines?11. Who certifies the SMFF companies?12. Do non-tank vessels owners need to consult their property underwriters before entering into Funding Agreement with one of the 5 listed salvors?13. What are the requirements on OSRO for nontank vessels under the Final Rule?14. How many OSROs in the US with sufficient response resources and dispersant capacity to deal with a worse case discharge on a nationwide basis?15. Are MSRC and NRC's contracts approved?16. Can MSRC and NRC also provide for dispersant and aerial tracking services required under the Final Rule?17. Does the Club have a recommendation which OSRO a non-tank vessel owner should choose?18. Can we sign any other version of contract with MSRC or NRC?19. Where can I find the texts of the contracts of MSRC and NRC which are confirmed to be in conformity with the International Group guidelines?20. Some QIs suggest that owners should enter into an agreement with both MSRC and NRC. What is the Club's view?21. I have more questions. Who should I ask?
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1. Where can I find a copy of the USCG Final Rule on Non-tank Vessel Response Plan?
The Final Rule on Non-Tank Vessel Response Plans (VRP) is published in the Federal Register, Vol. 78, No. 189, dated Monday 30th September 2013.
2. What are non-tank vessels owners required to do under the Final Rule?
Non-Tank vessel owners are required to submit their VRPs to the Coast Guard by 30th January 2014.
3. Which vessels are required to have a VRP under the Final Rule?
Self-propelled, non-tank vessels of 400 gross tons or greater, that carry oil of any kind as fuel for main propulsion and that operates on the navigable waters of the United States.
4. Where can I find explanations on the detailed requirements?
USCG has issued a rolling FAQ which gives interpretations on the Final Rule requirements. A copy can be found on the UK Club website:
Alternatively, the following link provides the latest edition on the US Coast Guard "Homeport" website - https:..homeport.uscg.mil. Navigate to the FAQs options by selecting "Missions" on the options menu, followed by "Environmental" then "Vessel Response Program"
5. What are the main requirements under the Final R5ule on Non-Tank VRP?
Non-Tank vessel owners will be required to enter into Funding Agreements with salvage, marine fire-fighting companies (SMFF) and Oil Spill Response Organisations (OSRO).
6. Who prepares the VRP for nontank vessels owners?
It has been the practice in the US that QI (Qualified Individual) companies prepare VRPs and other plans for vessels owners (hence they are also now called plan writers). Most of the US QI companies offer such services.
The main US QIs are:
- GMS (http://www.gallaghermarine.com),
- ECM Hudson (http://www.ecmmaritime.com),
- Hudson Marine (http://www.ecmmaritime.com)
- Witt O'Briens (http://www.wittobriens.com/go/doc/2000/1580499/).
All of them have issued many advisories to their shipowner customers on VRP matters.
7. Are all non-tank vessels over 400gt required to enter into a funding agreement with a SMFF?
No. Only non-tank vessels with oil-carrying capacity of 2,500 barrels (c. 395,000 litres ) or greater must enter into funding agreement with SMFF.
8. Which salvors' Funding Agreements comply with IG guidelines?
Five salvors' Funding agreements have been reviewed and found to conform with the International Group (IG) Salvage Guidelines on Vessel Response Plans. These agreements with footers for identification are listed below.
- Donjon-Smit - (Tanker and Non-Tank) Version A - October 4, 2013
- Marine Response Alliance LLV - Version 16 October 2013
- Resolve Salvage & Fire (Americas) Inc - Version 3 - 1 October 2013
- Svitzer - USA Companies Version October 1, 2013
- Svitzer - INTL Companies Version October 1, 2013
- T&T Salvage LLC - USA Owner (Tanker and Nontank) Version - 4 October 2013
- T&T Salvage LLC - Non-US Owner (Tanker and Nontank) Version - 4 October 2013
9. What about non-tank vessels with oil-carrying capacity less than 2,500 barrels (c. 395,000 litres ) but greater than or equal to 250 barrels (39,500 litres) ?
Non-tank vessel owners with a fuel and cargo capacity of less than 2,500 barrels (c. 395,000 litres ) but greater than or equal to 250 barrels (c.39,500 litres) are only required to identify resource providers in their VRPs and have the agreement of the salvor to list them in their plans rather than enter into a full Funding Agreement. The following such agreements have been reviewed and found to conform with the International Group (IG) Salvage Guidelines on Vessel Response Plans.
- Donjon-Smit - Consent Agreement for Vessel Response Plans - October 4, 2013
- Marine Response Alliance LLV - MPA OPA 90 & CA Certificate of Coverage Version 2013
- Resolve Salvage & Fire (Americas) Inc - RMG OPA 90 Certificate of Coverage 01 October 2013
- Svitzer Written Consent - Version Oct 2013
- T&T Salvage, LLC OPA 90 Written Consent - 4 October 2013
10. Where can I find the texts of the Funding Agreement which have been confirmed to be in conformity with the International Group guidelines?
The Club maintains a special section of the website " US Vessel Response Plan compliance" where the appropriate funding agreeements are available for download as PDF documents -
http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge/industry-developments/us-vessel-response-plan-compliance/
11. Who certifies the SMFF companies?
Unlike the position with regard to Oil Spill Response Organisations which are classified by the USCG, it is the responsibility of the shipowner or operator to ensure that SMFFs have capability measured against 15 criteria and to certify to this effect. Those 15 criteria can be found in Circular 14/13, Annex 2.
The detailed requirements on contracting with SMFF are almost identical to those for tank vessels. Please refer to Circular 12/10 relating to tank vessels for full details of the requirements, including an FAQ on SMFF, 15 criteria, IG guidelines relating to SMFF in VRP.
Members should also check with their chosen SMFF that they are able to provide resources meeting the 15 criteria in all the geographic areas of the United States which their ships will visit.
12. Do nontank vessels owners need to consult their property underwriters before entering into Funding Agreement with one of the 5 listed salvors?
Yes, they should consult their property underwriters with regard to selection of any particular contract/funding agreement.
13. What are the requirements on OSRO for nontank vessels under the Final Rule?
Non-tank vessel owners will also be required to enter into contracts with oil spill response contractors with sufficient response resources and dispersant capability to deal with a worst case discharge.
14. How many OSROs in the US with sufficient response resources and dispersant capacity to deal with a worse case discharge on a nationwide basis?
Only two: MSRC (Marine Spill Response Corporation) and NRC (National Response Corporation).
15. Are MSRC and NRC's contracts approved?
Both MSRC and NRC's spill response contracts have been confirmed to be in conformity with IG guidelines.
16. Can MSRC and NRC also provide for dispersant and aerial tracking services required under the Final Rule?
Yes. Both MSRC and NRC can provide the necessary dispersant and aerial tracking capability to enable non-tank vessel owners to comply with the new regulations. MSRC is willing to provide this facility at no extra charge on terms that comply with IG guidelines. NRC is also willing to provide this facility but, in order to do so on terms which comply with IG guidelines, it is expected that they will levy an additional annual charge.
For further details, please consult the following websites:
MSRC
NRC
Contact at MSRC: Judith Roos - Tel (703) 326 5617 -
Contact at MPA: Brett Drewry - Tel: (480) 991 5599 -
Contact at NRC: Tel: (631) 224-9141 -
(Client Service Group) or Bryan Bell (Primary) (631) 259-6664 -
and Deborah Wick (Alternate) (631) 892-3392 -
17. Does the Club have a recommendation which OSRO a non-tank vessel owner should choose?
No. Members should contact OSROs directly to find out their rates and decide which one suits them the best. Members may also wish to consult with their VRP plan writers regarding their choice of the OSRO.
18. Can we sign any other version of contract with MSRC or NRC?
No. Members are recommended to only sign the contract which has been identified as being in conformity with the IG guidelines.
19. Where can I find the texts of the contracts of MSRC and NRC which are confirmed to be in conformity with the International Group guidelines?
Both MSRC and NRC contracts can be found as attachments to the website version of Circular 19/13 "United States Vessel Response Plans - OSRO Contracts" -
20. Some QIs suggest that owners should enter into an agreement with both MSRC and NRC. What is the Club's view?
We understand QIs' advice was given on the basis that the contracts with both MSRC and NRC are still very economical. So it does no harm to have two OSRO resources pre-contracted. But the price may change in the future and owners may find unaffordable to contract with both. The law/regulation only requires owners to contract an OSRO with the necessary oil spill response capacity. Both MSRC and NRC can provide the necessary capability to enable non-tank vessel owners to comply with the new regulations. The decision is therefore that of the owners.
21. I have more questions. Who should I ask?
Contact your usual Club person or contact Dr Chao Wu (+44 207 204 2157, Email: (
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