TO THE MEMBERS

OIL POLLUTION IN THE UNITED STATES: NON-TANK VESSELS AND CALIFORNIA REQUIREMENTS

The California Nontank Vessel Contingency Plan regulations (of which details were previously given in the Association's circulars

COFRs

Members are reminded that they will need to obtain their California COFRs before seeking approval for their oil spill contingency plan. Many Members have already obtained interim COFRs from OSPR. Those who have not done so and intend to trade to California are advised to contact Cheryl Mitchell at OSPR (Tel: +916-324-6257, Fax: +916-323-4727) to request application forms. The completed forms should be returned by fax to OSPR, together with a copy of the Association's Certificate of Entry for each ship concerned and payment by wire transfer to OSPR of $100 per ship.

Oil Spill Contingency Plan

The final form of the contingency plan regulations can be found at the website of the California Department of Fish & Game at

Many Members have already reached an advanced stage in preparing to meet the requirements of the new regulations, with planning assistance from Corbett & Holt (C&H), including provision of an agent for service, and utilising the QI and OSRO contracts to which Members have access under the arrangements announced in the Association's circulars

The process of preparing a contingency plan is complicated and time consuming. Members who have not yet begun this process and intend to trade to California in the near future are reminded that C&H can provide comprehensive assistance in preparing contingency plans, through to submission and obtaining approval from OSPR, for a one-off fee of $1,000 per owner/operator, irrespective of the number of ships involved. If you wish to use this facility, please contact Charles Corbett of C&H (indicating your full style, address etc) at Suite 1000, 600 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20037 (Phone +202-337-7700, and Fax +202-337-7090), with copy to Chao Wu at Thomas Miller (Americas) Inc, (Phone +201-557-7300, and Fax +201-946-0167).

Yours faithfully

THOMAS MILLER (BERMUDA) LTD

2/99, 7/99 and 12/99) have finally been approved and were filed with the Secretary of State on 28 December 1999. The effect of the regulations is to require Members who trade non-tank vessels to California from 3 February 2000 to have submitted for approval to the California Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) an oil spill contingency plan and to have obtained from OSPR a state Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) for US$300 million. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr. The regulations require the owner or operator to have (i) an approved oil spill contingency plan, (ii) a contract with an approved oil spill response organisation (OSRO), (iii) a Qualified Individual (QI), and (iv) an agent for service of legal process. 7/99 and 12/99 of last April and July. The Managers are now adjusting these contracts in the light of the final version of the regulations.Dear Sirs