Circular issued by International Group clubs Background This Circular issued by the International Group deals with the same subject matter as the  Skuld Legal News item published on 16 October 2009 .   On 1 March 2010, the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution from Ships (“the Regulations”) (promulgated by the PRC State Council on 9 September) will take effect.  The aim of the Regulations is to establish comprehensive rules governing oil pollution prevention, response and clean up within PRC waters. The intention of this circular is to summarise the key provisions of the Regulations.  The International Group (IG) understands that the PRC’s Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) is drafting further implementing legislation to give effect to a number of the provisions contained in the Regulations; which includes the requirement to contract with approved pollution response companies and the requirement to maintain insurance or other financial security to cover liabilities arising from oil pollution damage.  The IG will continue to engage with the MSA in this regard and, as appropriate, will issue further circulars. Overview The Regulations cover a wide range of issues, such as the discharge and reception of oil pollutants; dumping of waste and permissions for dumping; oil pollution response planning; oil spill clean-up arrangements; reporting and emergency handling of pollution incidents; investigation and compensation of pollution incidents; supervision of the loading, lightening and discharging of the polluting hazardous cargoes; and penalties for contravening any of the Regulations’ requirements.  The Regulations also introduce into PRC law a compulsory insurance regime for all ships (except those that are less than 1,000 gt and not carrying oil cargoes) to cover claims arising from oil pollution damage.  This would also seem to provide the necessary implementing legislatio