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 December ... Read More

As WQIS has previously advised, on June 8, 2015 the limit of liability under the Bunker Convention will increase by approximately 50%. For all current WQIS assureds that have a Bunker Convention Blue Card issued by WQIS, WQIS is automatically holding covered the new gross tonnage limits until the policy ... Read More

The Water Quality Insurance Syndicate (WQIS) has announced that, as of June 5th, 2015, it will significantly increase the limits of its Certificate of Financial Responsibility offering, allowing coverage for the world’s largest vessels and providing an alternative for operators requiring a COFR at the most competitive rates in the market. The New York-based ... Read More

Effective June 8th, 2015, the limit of liability under the Bunker Convention will increase by approximately 50%. Under the amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the LLMC Convention, the limits are raised as follows: The limit of liability under the Bunker Convention for ships not exceeding 2,000 gross tonnage is ... Read More

As we have previously advised, vessel owners and operators should be aware that the OPA 90 phase-out deadline for single-hull tank vessels was January 1, 2015. This means that it is now unlawful to operate any single-hull tank vessel subject to the double-hull requirements of 33 CFR part 157 ... Read More

TRIA has been renewed by Congress. The Legislation now goes to the President who is expected to sign it very soon. The key provisions are: 6 year reauthorization; $200 million trigger – no change in 2015, but phased-in the following five years in $20 million  increments; 80-20 public – ... Read More