US Vessel Response Plans - Salvage and Marine Firefighting Requirements - Final Rule 31 December 2008 - Deadline for Implementation 22 February 2011 - Update

CIRCULAR REF: 2010/030

CIRCULATED TO ALL MEMBERS, BROKERS AND DIRECTORS

Salvage Agreements

This circular applies to owners of tank vessels carrying oil calling at US ports

We refer to Circular No 2010/022 of 23 August 2010 concerning the above, which provided a list of salvor contracts/funding agreements which had been reviewed by the International Group.

On 27 September 2010 the US Coast Guard published Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular **(NVIC) No 2-10** providing guidance for the implementation and enforcement of the requirements under the Final Rule.  This NVIC can be found using the following link and instructions for access:  www.uscg.mil/vrp

–    select “What’s new?” and then **NVIC 2-10**

The NVIC provides a summary of the procedural steps necessary for updating owners’ existing vessel response plans as well as appendices containing answers to frequently asked questions and a glossary of terms.

We regret that in the previous circular there was an error in Annex 4 which contained a technical comparison of the contracts reviewed and a rate comparison.  On page 4 there is an error under “contract” in the first two columns.  In addition T&T Bisso has published some new rates which came into effect on 1 September 2010.

A revised Annex 4 is attached updated and amended where relevant.  The amendments are shown in yellow.

There has been a small amendment to the DonjonSmit contract and this has been reissued with a new footer.

The current salvor contracts/funding agreements which have been reviewed by the International Group and found to conform with the Vessel Response Plan salvage guidelines are the following:

• DonjonSmit – July 2010, Version 1.1 on page 1 and Version 1.0 on subsequent pages
• MRA – Dated 2 August 2010
• Resolve – Dated 14 June 2010
• T&T Bisso – Non US – 22 April 2010; US – 15 June 2010

All Clubs in the International Group of P&I Clubs have issued similar circulars.

AJ Stichbury

Manager (Claims) – North Insurance Management Limited

As Managers on behalf of the North of England P&I Association Limited