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LEGAL UPDATE INTERTANKO Applauds USCG Final Rules Regarding Under-Keel Clearance For Single Hull Tankers The Coast Guard (USCG) issued final regulations concerning the under-keel clearance requirements for single hull tank vessels enter- ing or leaving U.S. ports. "These rules are dramatically different than those issued by the Coast Guard late last year. I applaud the Coast Guards' efforts to revise the regulations to reflect modern watch-keeping and pas- sage planning requirements," said Dagfinn Lunde, Managing Director of INTERTANKO. The regulations provide that the owner and operator of a single hull tanker furnish the master with written under-keel clearance guid- ance. The guidance must include consideration of factors concerning calculation of the ship's draft, anticipated controlling depth, and weather/environmental condi- tions. It also must stipulate under what conditions the owner and operator should be contacted prior to entering port or getting under- way. If no such guidance is provid- ed, a statement to that effect must be provided. The regulations also require that the master and pilot plan the ship's passage. This passage plan- ning must be discussed by the master and the pilot and must include the ship's planned transit, including the anticipated under- keel clearance. An entry must be made in the official log reflecting this discussion of the ship's antici- pated passage. "The final rule vindicates INTERTANKO's stance that regu- lations must be both effective and based on sound operating and management experience. We believe that the Coast Guard has taken those steps with this regula- tion," said Richard du Moulin, Chairman of INTERTANKO and President of Marine Transport Lines. The final rule goes into effect on January 21, 1998. New BIMCO Course Planned For Ship Agents Ships Agents — Obligations and Remedies: A Practical Workshop is the title of the newest BIMCO Residential course to be held from November 3-5, 1997, in Copenhagen. Designed for ship agency execu- tives, including legal, claims, insurance and accounts personnel, the course offers participants an opportunity to explore the complex issues affecting the agency sector today. Many maritime industry experts have been invited to speak, including: — Julia Mavropoulos of ITIC, who will introduce attendees to agency law and discuss recurring SIMPLEX-COMPACT The next generation of seals, with finite-element design and proven performance worldwide. • Patented CLICK - clamping system • Micro-lubricating film • Intelligent complex sealing ring knee Offers you: • Environmental protection • Operational safety • 15-year class period For more than fifty years, Simplex and Simplex-Compact have been synonymous with outstandingly engineered Sterntube sealing sys- tems. Simplex-Compact 2000 continues with this tradition into the next century. Blohm+Voss B&V INDUSTRIETECHNIK GMBH (A Thyssen Company) PO. Box 100720 Hamburg. Germany Distributed by: New York City Area P.O. Box 630168 Little Neck, N Y. 11363-0168 USA TEL: (718) 460-1220 FAX: (718) 460-1464 SIMPLEX-TURMAR INC. Bu«al° New York Office TEL: (716) 695-0142 FAX: (716) 695-0144 Circle 226 on Reader Service Card 64 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
