Page 28: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2013)

28 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ? JUNE 2013 SALVAGE NON-TANKER RULES UPDATE What does it mean to you? The new regulations address the need to identify appropriate response resources, including diving, salvage, firefighting or lightering equipment and personnel, within Vessel Re- sponse Plans (VRPs). Expected to impact some 16,000 vessels, ship-owners likely have already examined the new rules and their likely impact. That said, there remain as many unan-swered questions as answers on what this means for shipowners and salvors alike.Several leading salvage companies weighed in on the new rule, and the preparations necessary to ensure a seamless and painless implementation for shipowners.?OPA 90 regulations place strict li- ability on the shipowner himself and as such it is critical for them to dili-gently evaluate to select the best con-tractor, and not just go by third party recommendations or fancy websites,? said Mauricio Garrido, president, T&T Salvage. He added, USCG regu- lations concentrate on industry?s abil- ity to deploy proper equipment and personnel to a casualty in U.S. waters, no matter the cause. ?The OPA-90 Non-Tank SMFF regulations will now put emergency response and preparedness front and center within the vessel owner?s busi- ness,? said Denis. ?The regulations will require shipowners to take more proactive measures to prepare for and mitigate the impact of an emergency situation, and at the same time will offer vessel owners more commercial predictability in case of a response.?Each firm contacted for this story insisted that shipowners first and foremost be diligent in vetting the prospective salvor to ensure that it is qualified, as well as being a match to the operator?s global fleet profile. ?Salvage is a relationship-based business, where reliability and trust between shipowner and salvor is par- amount for a successful emergency response,? said Maurice Denis, Re-gional Manager, SVITZER Salvage Americas. ?(This presents a) very unique opportunity for shipowners if they select a SMFF Provider which can offer them truly-global emergen- cy response coverage and thus fully capitalize on these benefits anywhere their vessels transit worldwide.?Making the CaseNever shy about most things, Ma-rine Salvors did not disappoint when queried about the road ahead and what each needs to do to be ready for what comes next.Citing an inventory of prepositioned owned salvage and firefighting equip-ment, Garrido said that T&T Sal- vage meets compliance in all USCG Captain of the Port Zones and stands ready to support Non-Tankers for compliance with the new rules, as well as with capable response to actu-al emergences. According to Garrido, T&T Salvage holds more than 60% of tanker market share, with a client list that includes BP, Chevron, Con- oco-Phillips, Kirby, SeaRiver, Mitsui OSK, Aramco and Maersk. High profile, experienced players Smit Salvage and Donjon Marine teamed years ago to create Donjon-Smit; their OPA 90 face to the market. Today, they are considered by many as the leading provider of worldwide emergency response salvage services, said Raymond Lord, President Don-jon-Smit LLC. ?Currently we have a majority of the present tank vessel clients under contract and anticipate we will continue to lead with a domi-nant share of the non-tanker market as well.?At Resolve, Joe Farrell and his crew pride themselves on differentiation, finding and exploiting market special-ties, while maintaining a full menu of salvage and emergency response. ?For response, non-tank owners can trust the same guys that met them in their office, or talked to them on the phone or communicated by email to be on the other end of the phone in an emergency,? Matthew Hahne of Re- solve Salvage & Fire (Americas) Inc. ?In the early days, it was Joe Farrell that answered the phone and Joe that responded. Now, Joe has ensured ev- OPA 90 regulations place strict liability on the shipowner himself and as such it is critical for them to diligently evaluate to select the best contractor, and not just go by third party recommendations or fancy websites,?Mauricio Garrido, President, T&T Salvage Resolve has been providing nontank  eet coverage in the U.S. for 20+ years already. This ... simply makes our existing process and existing U.S. coverage a requirement. Matt Hahne, Resolve Salvage & Fire (Americas) MR #6 (26-33).indd 28MR #6 (26-33).indd 285/31/2013 11:52:50 AM5/31/2013 11:52:50 AM