Referring to vessel operators in the State of Washington
The Standard P&I Club issues ECM Client Alert 23-2011as follows:
ECM Maritime Services has just been informed that new State of Washington (WA) reporting requirements for vessel emergencies and spills becomes effective today, July 22, 2011.
Vessel operators must now notify the State of Washington within one hour of experiencing a vessel emergency that either results in a discharge or
poses a substantial threat of a discharge of oil. Under previous WA law, the state was required to be notified only when an actual discharge of oil to waters had occurred.
The new law specifically states the following:
“The owner or operator of covered vessel must notify the state of any vessel emergency that results in the discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil to state waters or that may affect the natural resources of the state within one hour of the onset of that emergency.
For more information, click here.
Source: The Standard P&I Club