The US Coast Guard reports that their Vessel Response Plan (VRP) programme has been receiving an influx of expedited requests (submissions received outside of the regulatory timeframes). Britannia P&I has advised its Members that the regulatory review timeframes are as follows: VRPs must be submitted at least 60 days before the ship intends to handle, store, transport, transfer, or lighter oil in areas subject to the jurisdiction of the US. VRPs requiring revision or amendment must be submitted 30 days in advance of a ship’s operation.
The Club noted that, although the USCG works to accommodate expedited requests, it cannot guarantee that expedited requests will be honoured within the requested timeframe. Ship owners and operators are encouraged to submit their advanced notice of arrival (ANOA) promptly while awaiting the pending status of a VRP submission. Contact uscg.mil or the VRP Help Desk at +1 (202) 372-1005 for further information. https://www.britanniapandi.com/news/us-expedited-vessel-response-plan-vrp-requests/