The California State Lands Commission issued a letter to remind about the new requirements for vessels arriving at the country’s ports on or after October 1st, 2017. As GREEN4SEA previously reported, from that date, all vessels will have to submit a completed “Marine Invasive Species Program Annual Vessel Reporting Form” at least twenty four hours in advance of the first arrival of the calendar year at a California port.
The letter addresses the following new items:
A. Marine Invasive Species Program Annual Vessel Reporting Form
”In 2017, if a vessel arrived at a California port for the first time prior to October 1, 2017, then the vessel must submit the Hull Husbandry Reporting Form and the Ballast Water Treatment Technology Annual Reporting Form (if applicable). If a vessel arrives at a California port for the first time between October 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, then the vessel must submit the Annual Vessel Reporting Form.”
B. Repeal of the Ballast Water Treatment Technology Annual Reporting Form, Ballast Water Treatment Supplemental Reporting Form, and the Hull Husbandry Reporting Form
Vessels are no longer required to submit the following forms for arrivals at California ports on or after October 1, 2017:
- Ballast Water Treatment Technology Annual Vessel Reporting Form
- Ballast Water Treatment Supplemental Reporting Form
- Hull Husbandry Reporting Form
Furthermore, California SLC refers to the existing reporting requirements as a reminder.
Therefore, all vessels that arrive at California ports must submit the Ballast Water Management Report 24 hours prior to arrival at each port call in California. If a vessel’s voyage is less than 24 hours, then the report shall be submitted upon departure from the last port of call prior to arrival.
To ensure compliance with reporting requirements under the Marine Invasive Species Act (Public Resources Code section 71200 et seq.), the following details are required:
- Supply vessel masters, owners, operators, or persons in charge with required reporting forms
- Inform vessel masters, owners, operators, or persons in charge of the submission requirements
- Encourage timely submission of all required forms
- Remind clients that failure to comply with form submission requirements may result in an administrative civil penalty applicable to the master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel
You may find California SLC letter addressing the issue herebelow