Owners and operators of bulk liquid cargo vessels carrying Group I-IV petroleum oils trading to the USA would be wise to pay particular attention to the new final rule setting forth Salvage & Marine Firefighting Requirements under 33 CFR Part 155. This rule, issued December 31, 2008, sets forth very specific requirements for each of the required salvage and firefighting services that must be identified in vessel response plans, including new response time requirements and resources that must be identified and available for responding to incidents up to and including the worst case discharge scenario. At the time this regulation came into effect the USCG advised that it would affect approximately 800 plan holders.

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