Circular issued by International Group clubs US Vessel Response Plans - Salvage and Marine Firefighting Requirements Final Rule 30 September 2013 - Deadline for implementation 30 January 2014 This circular applies to owners of tank and non-tank vessels calling at US ports. Agreements with Salvors and Oil Spill Response Organisations (OSROs) Members are referred to Circular published on 1 October 2013 in which members were advised that non-tank vessel owners are required to submit Vessel Response Plans (VRPs) to the Coast Guard by 30 January 2014. For the purposes of these plans, non-tank owners are required to pre-contract with Qualified Individuals (QIs), Oil Spill Response Organisations (OSROs), Dispersant service providers and salvors. This circular addresses the requirements for contracts with salvors. A separate circular will be published at the beginning of next month addressing the requirements to pre-contract with OSROs. The publication of the US non-tank final rule has prompted a review of the arrangements most Clubs have with the major OSROs which are also the main dispersant service providers. For the time being, members are advised that they should not enter into any arrangements with these OSROs on the assumption that the current arrangements with the Clubs will continue. Non-tank vessels - Salvage Funding Agreements Non-tank vessel owners with a fuel and cargo capacity of 2,500 barrels or greater to carry oil (as defined) are required to enter into Funding Agreements with salvors and marine fire-fighting resources. The requirements for this category of vessels are almost identical to those for tank vessels. Members are therefore referred to the Circular published on 22 February 2011 and previous Circulars relating to tank vessels for full details of the requirements. The Funding Agreements of five salvors have been reviewed and found to conform with the International Group (IG) Salvage Guidelines on Vessel Respon