The Honduras Directorate of Merchant Marine issued a circular informing that the deadline for the implementation of oil spill response requirements in Honduras is extended from 1st January to 15 January 2018.
The Honduras Maritime Authority has advised that, according to Act DGMM-022-2015, all vessels must nominate an oil spill response organisation (OSRO) which has been approved by the Authority to secure the availability of private personnel and equipment necessary to remove, to the maximum extent practicable, a worst-case discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a substantial threat of such a discharge.
Currently, there is one OSRO, the ‘Ocean Pollution Control S.A. Honduras’, who has agreed to an unamended RESPONSECON form in the event of a spill. RESPONSECON is the standard industry contract developed by BIMCO/ISCO for the hire of specialised spill response services and equipment in the event of an incident in international waters outside the US.
The Honduras Maritime Authority has confirmed that an IG Club’s Certificate of Entry is enough evidence of insurance to cover the liability of the registered owner for pollution damage for all vessels calling at Honduran ports or requesting anchorage within Honduran waters. This must be submitted to Port State Control officials at least 24 hours before the vessel’s arrival together with, for CLC tankers, the vessel’s State Certificate issued in accordance with the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage.
The shipowner will also need to arrange via their local ship’s agent in Honduras a “standby contract” – Certificate of Coverage for marine pollution response issued by Ocean Pollution Control S.A. Honduras.
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