ALERT: US ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS VRP - NON-TANK VESSELS ONLY; VGP - ALL VESSELS

If you are the owner/operator of vessels trading to the United States, you should be aware of the imminent new environmental requirements set out below. These requirements have already been explained in Club circulars, but you may find it helpful to have this overview where they are collected in one place. If you have not yet considered how to comply, now is the time to act.

1. United States Coast Guard (USCG) Final Rule on Non-tank Vessel Response Plans (VRP)

Owners/operators of any non-tank vessel of 400 gross tons or more that operates on the navigable waters of the US must submit a Vessel Response Plan (VRP) by 30 January 2014. [The US Coast Guard "Final Rule" establishing this requirement was published on 30th September 2013 (Federal Register, Vol. 78, No. 189 )]

The main requirements of the VRP are: contracting with an SMFF (salvage marine firefighting) company and an OSRO (oil spill response) company.

Please refer to

of 16 October 2013 for detailed guidance on contracting with an SMFF. You will find in this Circular the names of the SMFFs and their contracts which have been confirmed to be in conformity with International Group (IG) guidelines.

Please refer to

and

for detailed guidance on contracting with OSROs. MSRC and NRC are the two nationwide OSROs who can provide for oil spill cleanup services required by the law. Both MSRC and NRC have contracts which have been confirmed to be in conformity with IG guidelines.

The deadline for compliance is now pressing, especially with the interval of Christmas and New Year celebrations. A number of consultants and service providers have advised that owners

in order to be sure that they are provided with the services necessary for compliance

.

2. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) requirements

In November 2008, the Club issued

advising that all qualifying vessels with discharge of pollutants incidental to their normal operation into the US waters (three miles territorial sea or inland water) must comply with the EPA's Vessel General Permit requirements from 19th December 2008 and obtain coverage under the VGP through filing a Notice of Intent.

However, the 2008 VGP requirement will expire on 19 December 2013 and earlier this year, the EPA issued new 2013 VGP requirements, to apply for another five years starting from 19 December 2013.

The UK Club's website has accordingly drawn Members' attention to the new 2013 VGP requirements.

Owners or operators of vessels of 300 or more gross tons, or which have a capacity to hold or discharge more than 8 cubic metres of ballast water, must comply with the 2013 VGP requirement and must submit a Notice of Intent using EPA's electronic system no later than seven days prior to any discharge in US waters. Owners of qualifying vessels under the 2008 VGP should therefore submit their electronic Notice of Intent before 12 December 2013 if they wish to ensure continued coverage under 2013 VGP from 19 December 2013.

Please refer to

for detailed guidance.

ANY QUESTIONS…? 

The Club's special section

on the website (

) compiles the circulars, contracts, advisories and other information such as US Coast Guard FAQs, weblinks etc. QI firms such as Gallagher Marine Services, provide consultancy support for owners who need to file these plans and make the other essential arrangements. The UK Club can advise Members individually and help guide their efforts towards compliance. Please do not hesitate to contact

at the Club's London office if you need further information.

GUIDE TO ABBREVIATIONS

EPA - Environmental Protection Agency (United States agency)

IG - International Group (of P&I Clubs)

MSRC - Marine Spill Response Corporation

NRC - National Response Corporation

NTVRP - Non-tank Vessel Response Plan

OSROs - Oil Spill Response Companies

QI - Qualified Individuals

SMFF - Salvage, Marine Firefighting

USCG - United States Coast GuardVGP - Vessel General PermitVRP - Vessel Response Plan