The Club's latest Circular 21/12 announces a Special General Meeting to be held on 22nd January 2013 in Bermuda. The circular includes the meeting papers and a proxy form that which enables Members to cast their vote on the three resolutions proposed at that meeting.
OUTLINE: This circular refers to the earlier Circular 17/12 "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships"; A revised set of FAQs is attached to this circular taking account of the revised Detailed Rules although the further MSA Notice anticipated in circular 17/12 has not yet been published; If a new MSA Notice requires amendments of these attached FAQs a new set of FAQs will be issued in a future circular; The IG spill response contract issued with circular 17/12 has been revised further and is also attached to his circular.
US oil spill response organisations' (OSROs) standard service agreements often include an addendum that does not comply with Group guidelines. Members agreeing to such an addendum may incur liabilities that are outside Club cover. National Response Corporation (NRC) is the latest OSRO to adopt such a non-compliant addendum to its service agreements. Group guidelines on VRP service agreements and the addendum are published in Club
PLR takes effect from 31 December 2012. It applies to all ships carrying more than 12 passengers and either registered in or trading to an EU/EEA Member State. Certification of insurance for liabilities up to SDR 250,000 per passenger under the Athens Convention will be required by the PLR. The Club will be issuing non-war Blue Cards to facilitate owners' application for State certificates in advance of 31 December 2012. Group clubs do not provide primary war risks cover. Arrangements for alternative means of compliance with the PLR requirement for a war risks Blue Card are currently under discussion within the International Group. Further developments should be announced shortly.
This Circular amends Circular ref. 1/12 regarding application of 50 per cent rebate of the US tanker voyage additional premium. The 50 per cent reduction on premium rates for voyages involving loading or lightering of persistent oil cargo in the US will not be restricted to LOOP and the four designated areas described in Circular ref 1/12. The reduction will continue to be applied to other lightering areas approved by the US Coast Guard on the same basis as prior to Circular 1/12
Members must notify the Club at the earliest opportunity if they intend to load nickel ore from Indonesian or Philippine ports, and may prejudice cover if they fail to do so; This circular details the information that needs to be advised to the Club; This information is being compiled to identify those areas, ports & shippers that present particular difficulties, e.g. inaccurate cargo declarations; It remains the Members responsibility to ensure full compliance with the IMSBC Code; Mandatory notification applies only to cargoes of Nickel Ore to be loaded in Indonesia and the Philippines, and not to any other bulk cargoes
