Page 15: of Marine News Magazine (January 2011)

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www.marinelink.com tion of the vessel, as well the subsequent effects of fire fighting and damage control on the stability of the vessel) • identification of a salvage tug with suitable characteristics (towing configuration, bollard pull, emergency towing capacity in 40 knots of wind)

Waivers can be requested to extend the response time in which the resources must be able to get to the scene of an emergency. However the requirement to have the resources available will still stand. In other words, the waiver will allow your salvage tug more time to get to the vessel, but it won’t waive the requirement to have a suitable tug available. Waivers are due by January 22, 2011.

Geographic specific waivers and Alternative Planning Criteria (APC), if granted, will allow for a deviation from the requirements. However, the

Coast Guard will be looking to see that equivalent levels of safety and pollu- tion prevention/response are met. Sector Juneau has such an Alternate

Planning Criteria in place. The plan does not require specific identified resources that may be unavailable due to the remoteness of the region.

Instead, Sector Juneau requires that no servicing or repairs that affect propul- sion occur while underway outside of 12 miles, other than emergencies, without prior notification. Furthermore, no oil transfer operations are allowed outside of 12 miles.

The regulations allow for agreements with local, state, and federal resources. An example would be the use of the local fire department’s fire boats and personnel. The local Captain of the Port (COTP) will ultimately make the call as to what equipment is used. For example, if your plan has a specific tug listed, but there is a better suited tug nearby, the COTP may use

Executives from Donjon-Smit - an OPA-90 Alliance, visited the New York City offices of MarineNews to discuss the new salvage and firefighting require- ments of revised OPA-90 regs. Pictured from left are: John A. Witte Jr.,

Executive Vice President, Donjon Marine Co., Inc.; Paul Hankins, President ,

Donjon-Smit, LLC; amd Douglas Martin, President and General Manager,

Smit Salvage Americas.