Circular issued by International Group clubs Final Rule - 31 December 2008 Deadline for implementation - 22 February 2011 Salvage agreements This circular applies to owners of tank vessels carrying oil calling at US ports Members are referred to the final section of the Circular published on 8 June 2009 in which attention was drawn to the US Coast Guard (USCG)  Final Rule amending the Vessel Response Plan (VRP) Salvage and Marine Firefighting requirements for tank vessels carrying oil (33 CFR part 155). This final rule became effective on 30 January 2009 and states that owners of tank vessels calling at US ports must enter into agreements with salvage and marine firefighting services and list these in the VRPs for such vessels. Owners and operators who are required to have a VRP now have until 22 February 2011 to prepare and submit revised plans that comply with these new salvage and marine firefighting requirements. Such amended plans can be filed from 1 September 2010. It is emphasised that unlike the position with regard to Oil Spill Response Organisations which are classified by the USCG, it is the responsibility of the shipowner or operator to ensure that the salvor and firefighter have capability measured against 15 criteria, and to certify to this effect. The criteria are listed in Annex 1. Owners and salvors have raised a number of questions concerning the Final Rule. The USCG has published FAQs and these are updated from time to time. Please use the following link and instructions to access the FAQs:  www.uscg.mil/vrp select ‘General’ under the heading Frequently Asked Questions select **Salvage and Marine Firefighting Frequently Asked Questions** NEW select PDF document: SMFF FAQ (N.B. the latest version as at 18 August is July 09, 2010) Final Rule The Final Rule establishes new response times, requirements for each of the required salvage and marine firefighting services, establishes criteria for vetting salvage and marine firefighting