Page 56: of Marine News Magazine (April 2012)

56MNApril 2012In 1971, oil spill response and cleanup was a simple process. Not so anymore. Now, and 40 years later, spillers are vilified and criminalized. Thats just one of these rea- sons operators carry a myriad of insurance coverage prod- ucts. In reality, industry is doing a remarkably good job these days. Dagmar Schmidt Etkin of Environmental Research Consulting, in her report entitled 40-Year Analysis of US Oil Spillage Rates, claims, ? twenty years after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, which spurred regula- tory changes and industry initiatives to prevent oil spills, a comprehensive analysis of US spillage rates shows signif- icant progress in reducing spills.? She adds, Seventy- seven percent less oil is spilling since the 1970s and 46% less since the decade previous to the last decade.? Nevertheless, spills can and do happen. "Marine Pollution used to be a relatively simple and low key matter," says Richard Hobbie III, President of WQIS. "Since 1990 the proliferation of regulations, new state and federal laws and response requirements has made spill response and pollution insurance coverage far more com- plex. In response to these sweeping changes, WQIS has created an Academy to assist all professionals-both new and veteran-by providing a better understanding of our industry's details. We believe this will have a positive, far- reaching impact on the marine industry as a whole." Spills, although less frequent today than 30 years ago, do happen. Hobbie insists, But, it does happen, and you want to be prepared to deal with it when it does.? Enter WQIS, whose mission and vision includes being the pre- mier global provider of marine environmental insurance and services, providing the best possible coverage and service to industry, and makes a profit for subscribers. Thats a tall order for any provider. Beyond providing a market solution for its clients, however, Hobbie boils it down to one common denominator: We represent our subscribers.? As it turns out, this involves a lot more than just insurance.Hobbie is a graduate of Columbia University, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer and additionally serves in a lead- ership role for any number of professional maritime organizations. As an advisor on the U.S. delegation to theInternational Conference on Liability and Compensation for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of the International Maritime Organization; he has also been an instructor at WQIS Marine Pollution Academy A premier industry training guide ? available to all regardless of affiliation ? and for all the right reasons. By Joseph Keefe "Marine Pollution used to be a relatively simple and low key matter. Since 1990 the proliferation of regulations, new state and federal laws and response requirements has made spill response and pollution insur- ance coverage far more complex.? ? Richard Hobbie III, President of WQIS