Circular 18/14: US Pollution - California Certificates of Financial Responsibility (COFR) Requirements

OUTLINE:

• This Circular relates to previous Club Circular 7/13   which outlines the California COFR requirements for tank and non-tank vessels
• On renewal of P&I coverage operators must submit a copy of their new Certificate of Entry within 45 days of expiration of previous certificate.
• Vessel operators must submit a Certificate of Entry at least 10 calendar days prior to operating or entering California marine waters in order to apply for a California COFR

TO THE MEMBERS
 

US Pollution - California Certificates of Financial Responsibility (COFR) Requirements

Members are reminded of Club Circular 7/13  advising on the California COFR requirements for tank and non-tank vessels operating or entering in California marine waters. California OSPR has recently reviewed the Regulations which were approved on 16th December 2014.

Members are reminded that under the regulations, on renewal of P&I coverage, vessel operators must submit a copy of their new Certificate of Entry (COE) within 45 days of expiration of the previous certificate. The regulations further require that vessel operators must submit a Certificate of Entry at least 10 calendar days prior to operating or entering California marine waters in order to apply for a California COFR.

The details of the requirements can be found in the text of the regulations at the following web page:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/Law/index_ospr_regs.aspx

Chapter 2 - Subchapter 1

Certificates of Financial Responsibility - Sections 791-797 (PDF)

The IG has expressed strong concerns to California OSPR, since the 10 day requirement wrongly assumes that all owners complete their renewal negotiations and will be in possession of their new COE well in advance of 20 February. However, California OSPR has maintained this requirement in the amended regulations.

Members with vessels calling at California ports on or around 20th February on this and subsequent years are therefore recommended to renew their P&I cover for the following policy year well in advance of this date in order to ensure that the new COE can be issued and submitted to CA OSPR in compliance with the regulations.