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MFSA is the nonprofit corporation providing oil spill response and contingency planning coverage under the MFSA Vessel Response Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is an umbrella plan for vessels entering the Columbia River who enroll for coverage. A vessel may gain coverage by working with an agent who has a Blanket Enrollment Agreement with the MFSA and can handle all of the required paperwork, or by enrolling directly. To enroll directly, a vessel owner/operator must do the following:
1) entering into either a Direct Vessel Enrollment Agreement
2) paying any applicable Trip Fee prior to arrival, and
3) submitting an MFSA Arrival Notice at least 96-hours prior to the vessels arrival in the Area of Coverage (or if less, prior to depature).
We have established a simple and easy method for vessels entering the Columbia River to enroll for coverage. Our Association has enrollment agreements in place with area shipping agents who are members of the Columbia River Steamship Operators’ Association (CRSOA). Through those existing relationships visiting vessels are enrolled for coverage under the plan by their agent. This seamless operation makes meeting state regulations easy and cost effective for vessel operators.
Please contact a local Shipping Agent to assist you through this process.
Blue Water Pacific website | e-mail
Cascade Marine Agencies website | e-mail
Fujitrans U.S.A Inc. website
GAC North America – Shipping website | e-mail
GSB Marine Services website | e-mail
General Steamship Corp. LTD (includes Quay Cruise Agencies) website | e-mail
Cook Inlet Tug & Barge (Foss)
Crowley Maritime Corporation (Intrepid Ship Management, Inc.)
Tidewater Canada
Global Marine (Rainier Petroleum/Maxum Petroleum)
Olympic Tug & Barge (Centerline Logistics)
Polar Tankers
Sause Bros. Inc. website
For direct or one-time vessel enrollment, upon the execution of a Vessel Enrollment Agreement by both MFSA and the vessel’s owner/operator/authorized agent (Authorized Representative) and advance payment of the applicable vessel trip fee(s), the vessel will be enrolled for coverage under the Plan for one trip in the Area of Coverage. There is an additional charge for this enrollment option.
Steamship agency companies (Agents) or vessel operators (Operators) who meet eligibility requirements may provide for preapproval of and agreement to the terms of the Vessel Enrollment Agreement for all vessels they represent. Upon such approval, under the Blanket Enrollment Agreement an eligible vessel represented by that agency may be automatically enrolled under the Plan upon filing with MFSA (through the Merchants Exchange of Portland) an MFSA Arrival Notice prior to arrival of the vessel in the Area of Coverage, as described in Section 4.1 of the Blanket Enrollment Agreement.
Qualified Individual (“QI”)
Federal oil pollution rules require that ships operating in US waters designate the QI who is responsible for the vessel and will act to clean up a spill. This information is needed by MFSA to coordinate an effective response. MFSA has agreements in place with a number of for-hire QI companies representing vessels.
Qualified Individual (QI) providers with agreements on file with the MFSA
Compliance Systems
ECM Maritime Services
Gallagher Marine Systems
Galliano Marine Services
Hudson Marine Management Services
Norwegian Marine Services
Witt O’Brien
Alaska Tanker *
Chevron Shipping *
ConocoPhillips / Polar Tankers *
Crowley Marine / Intrepid *
Kirby Offshore Marine *
Olympic Tug & Barge *
OSG Shipping *
Sause Bros *
SeaRiver Maritime *
* Provide services for company vessels only
Oil Spill Recovery Organization (“OSRO”)
Federal oil pollution rules require that ships operating in US waters designate the OSRO who will response with equipment and personnel. These companies will be working with MFSA’s contracted responders to clean up a spill.
National Response Corporation (US Ecology)
Marine Spill Response Corporation
Spill Management Team (“SMT”)
Designation of an SMT is required by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Their goal is to ensure that the individuals who are managing a spill response meet basic standards. As such, they have begun to require that plan holders indicate who is their contracted SMT.
MFSA will manage up to the first 24 hours of a response, at which time a ship’s contracted SMT will take over the management of operations. This transition is critical to ensuring an effective, ongoing response.
SMTs that are currently approved by the State of Washington.
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Contact Information:
Maritime Fire & Safety Association
200 SW Market St., Ste 190,
Portland, OR 97201
Call (503) 228-4361 | Email info@mfsa.com