US Vessel Response Plans - Western Alaska - New Alternative Planning Criteria - 1-Call Alaska

CIRCULATED TO ALL MEMBERS, BROKERS AND DIRECTORS

CIRCULAR REF: 2015/015

Members are referred to Circular Nos 2015/008 and 2014/010 that previously informed Members that non-tank vessels in transit through Western Alaska waters en-route to or from a US port are required to follow Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) in order to fulfil federal requirements.

In order to meet these APC requirements Members have, to date, been required to enrol with the sole provider of such services in Western Alaska, namely the Alaska Maritime Prevention and Response Network (AK-AMPRN).

Members are informed that National Response Corporation (NRC) and Resolve Marine Group have now received final approval from the US Coast Guard (USCG) for their Western Alaska APC, which focuses on the northern Pacific Great Circle route for non-tank Vessels transiting through the Aleutian Islands in Western Alaska.

With this final approval from the USCG, NRC/Resolve is now providing non-tank vessel operators with their “1-Call Alaska” coverage for vessels transiting the Aleutian Islands Subarea of Western Alaska in compliance with OPA 90 regulations.  Therefore, non-tank vessel operators now have a choice of APCs to follow for their non-tank vessels transiting Western Alaska.

Availability of the 1-Call Alaska coverage

Members are informed that, at present, the 1-Call Alaska cover only applies to non-tank vessels, although NRC/Resolve expects to receive final USCG approval to expand their APC coverage to tank vessels transiting the Aleutian Islands Subarea of Western Alaska in the near future.

NRC’s existing clients can add coverage for their non-tank vessels transiting the “Great Circle” trading route in Western Alaska by signing the 1-Call Alaska Addendum to their existing OPA 90 contracts with NRC.

The 1-Call Alaska coverage is also available to Members who are not currently NRC clients for OPA 90 OSRO and Dispersant compliance services and who do not need US Federal OPA 90 services, by signing the 1-Call Alaska coverage short form contract along with the 1-Call Alaska Addendum.

1-Call Alaska Addendum

The 1-Call Alaska Addendum has been reviewed by the International Group and the Addendum conforms with the International Group’s Guidelines on US Vessel Response Plans.  Members who sign the Addendum do not therefore require additional cover.

The conforming Addendum, which is attached to this Circular, has the footer:

‘NRC Covered Vessels Alaska APC – December 2014 – NT’

Fees

The 1-Call Alaska annual vessel fee structure is attached to this Circular.

These fees are payable by existing NRC clients, in addition to their NRC retainer fees, only when a vessel transits the 1-Call Alaska coverage area to or from a US port.

Members who are currently not NRC clients do not have to pay NRC retainer fees in order to obtain the 1-Call Alaska coverage but will be required to pay the charges set out in the 1-Call Alaska annual vessel fee structure.  These charges will be payable only when a vessel transits the 1-Call Alaska coverage area.

The 1-Call Alaska website contains further information on the 1-Call Alaska coverage, together with copies of the documents referred to above: http://1CallAlaska.com

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

MATTHEW MOORE

DIRECTOR (CLAIMS)

The North of England P&I Association Limited