The following is the text of a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard:
(JUNEAU, Alaska) — Coast Guard captain of the port Southeast Alaska is monitoring ongoing instances where tank vessels and non-tank vessels required to meet Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 155, Subpart D and Subpart J, have been transiting within the boundaries of the Southeast Alaska COTP zone without the required Vessel Response Plan and/or Geographic Specific Appendix.
Tank vessels 150 gross tons and above and non-tank vessels 400 gross tons and above operating within the Southeast Alaska COTP zone or transiting to and from a port of the United States and through the Southeast Alaska COTP zone are required to hold a valid VRP and a valid GSA for Southeast Alaska. The Southeast Alaska COTP Zone is defined in 33 CFR § 3.85-10 and extends to the outermost extent of the U.S. exclusive economic zone up to 230 miles beyond the territorial sea baseline.
Vessel owners and/or operators failing to comply with 33 CFR Part 155 Subpart D and Subpart J may be subject to a monetary penalty not to exceed the maximum penalty of up to $11,000 per violation per day.
Currently, the only oil spill removal organization classified by the National Strike Force to meet the Worst Case Discharge Tier 1 planning standards, as required in 33 CFR Part 155 Subpart D and Subpart J for Southeast Alaska, is the Southeast Alaska Petroleum Response Organization. To obtain a valid GSA for Southeast Alaska, each vessel to which the requirements apply must have a contract or other approved means as defined in 33 CFR Part 155 Subpart D and Subpart J with SEAPRO and submit the contract or other approved means with the vessel's VRP to the Coast Guard VRP Help Desk.
