U.S. Coast Guard issues noxious liquid guidelines

U.S. Coast Guard issues noxious liquid guidelines    The U.S. Coast Guard has released a circular providing guidance for the development of shipboard marine pollution emergency plans for noxious liquid substances.
   “This circular notifies the shipping industry of the interim procedures adopted by the U.S. for demonstrating compliance with the requirements of regulation 16 of Annex II of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78),” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
   “This guidance allows for the submission and approval of one response plan to meet the requirements of the vessel response plans required by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), shipboard oil pollution emergency plans (SOPEPs) required by regulation 26 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, shipboard marine pollution emergency plans (SMPEP-NLS), or shipboard marine pollution emergency plans (SMPEPs) required by regulation 16 of Annex II of MARPOL 73/78,” the Coast Guard said.
   The guidelines apply to U.S. flag vessels and will be used to determine compliance by foreign-flag ships. For the complete text of the circular, see https://www.uscg.mil/hg/g-m/nvic/.