Page 22: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 2000)

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An electronic Oil Record Book could, therefore, be 011 the horizon. Instead of having to go to the location of the Oil

Record Book to make an entry, a Chief Engineer or a Chief

Mate could enter required information from any computer, hand-held or desktop, around the vessel and then electroni- cally sign the entry. The Master could then review and sign each page electronically, with the Oil Record Book and its entries sent electronically to shore and to Coast Guard at periodic intervals. The possibilities continue with Port State authorities requiring electronic access to the Book to review, search and track its contents. This possible future world for the Oil Record Book replicates itself with every record keep- ing and reporting requirement, from crew injury reports, to

International Safety Management documentation, to finan- cial reports.

What Will Constitute an Acceptable Signature?

E-SIGN is aggressively "technology neutral." Neither the

Federal nor a state government can enact statutory or regula- tory requirements dictating a specific technology or techni- cal specification for performing the functions of creating, storing, generating, receiving, communicating, or authenti- cating electronic signatures or records. Regulations can be adopted that provide for the acceptance and use of electron- ic records and signatures, as long as the provisions are con- sistent with E-SIGN, do not give greater legal status or effect to a specific technology used to create or store the document, and do not impose unreasonable costs on the acceptance and use of electronic records.

When Will E-SIGN Become Effective?

E-SIGN becomes effective on October 1, 2000, except with respect to any requirement for retention of a record imposed by either Federal or state statute or regulation, in which case the date is delayed until March 1, 2001. The effective date can be delayed further to June 1, 2001 if, on

March I, 2001, a Federal or state regulatory agency has taken any action to begin, even if not completed, a rulemak- ing to promulgate performance standards to govern the doc- uments and record keeping requirements governed by its rulemaking authority. Therefore, if, prior to March 1, 2001,

Coast Guard initiates a rulemaking to determine performance standards to gov- ern maintaining in electronic form various reports and documents required by its reg- ulatory programs, the effective date for implementation of E-SIGN for those reports and documents would be delayed until June 1, 2001.

Special Effective Date Provisions

Affecting Title XI Loan Guarantee Docu- ments. Federal credit programs are gov- erned by their own effective date. E-

SIGN applies only to transactions entered into and to any loan or mortgage made, insured or guaranteed on and after one year after the date of enactment of E-

SIGN, June , 2001.

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Bridge & Road Construction

The United States Government

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Much Work Remains to Be Done

No matter when it becomes effective, E-

SIGN is likely to have a major impact on the future of the maritime industry. But before any electronic commerce is under- taken or electronic records kept as the "official" copies for regulators, a careful assessment of that action should be under- taken. Government agencies will also have to decide how and under what cir- cumstances reporting to regulators is done electronically.

The preceding was authored by Susan

Geiger, Partner, Preston Gates Ellis &

Rouvelas Meeds LLP, Washington, D.C.