Following the announcement of the obligation for an OSRO certificate when conducting bunkering operations at Zona Comun, off La Plata, the Argentine Coast Guard has now shared further clarifications on the matter.
To remind, the Coast Guard of La Plata in Buenos Aires announced in late December that any vessel conducting bunkering operations at Zona Comun, off La Plata, is obliged to set up a contract with an oil spill response organization (OSRO). Accordingly, all vessels are required to have in place preventive arrangements to respond to any oil spill within 60 minutes of occurrence, commonly referred as an “OSRO Certificate”.
Latest information by the Argentine Coast Guard, Britannia P&I Club and their local correspondents have advised that:
- Tankers carrying hydrocarbons or other harmful substances and which are already sailing/operating in Argentina with a valid OSRO Certificate do not require any additional response services in order to take on bunkers at Zona Comun; and
- Dry cargo vessels (such as bulk carriers or containerships) do not require an OSRO Certificate in order to take on bunkers at Zona Comun.
