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With the implementation of the IMO 2020 fuel sulfur emissions regulations across the globe, shipping companies and logistics firms are having to adjust to potential legal issues and major financial repercussions. In the United States, the enforcement of IMO 2020 could bring harsh penalties to vessel operators caught attempting ... Read More
The Water Quality Insurance Syndicate, (“WQIS”), has announced today that Ryan A. Puttick has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Claims Officer effective from 1 October, 2019, replacing Harry Diamond who will transition to the full time position of Executive Consultant to WQIS. Ryan joined WQIS’ claims department in 2013 ... Read More
The United States Coast Guard is issuing a final rule to increase the limits of liability for vessels, deepwater ports, and onshore facilities, under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended (OPA 90), to reflect significant increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This final rule is effective November 12, ... Read More
We provide an update to the previously reported decision summary that can be found here: https://www.wqis.com/starr-v-wqis-legal-update-decision-of-interest/ A notice of Appeal was filed by Starr on May 23, 2018. The parties fully briefed the matter. Oral argument was held at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on May 15, 2019. By ... Read More
By now, all commercial vessel Owners and Operators are aware or should be of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s September 21, 2018 decision in United States v. Nature’s Way Marine, LLC – F.3d – (5th Cir. 2018). WQIS continues to receive various questions about ... Read More
On November 7, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an interesting opinion addressing the issue of when a Primary Marine Insurer’s duty to pay defense costs ends in relation to the exhaustion of the primary policy liability limits under the insurance contract. ... Read More
The National Pollution Funds Center has posted the following update regarding the government shutdown and the NPFC Vessel Certification Division closure. Due to the partial government shutdown, the Vessel Certification Division at NPFC is only minimally staffed and Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) applications are not being processed. However, ... Read More
The Vessel Certification Division of the National Pollution Funds Center has made the following announcement: ************************************** Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the Vessel Certification Division will be closed. During the shutdown, the ECOFR site will remain operational. We will review all received applications in the order received once ... Read More