§138.60. Forms and submissions; ensuring submission timeliness. — Inbound Citations

(b) The COFR Operator may establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility using the insurance guaranty method by submitting an Insurance Guaranty Form to the Director.

(1) Each form must be executed by no more than four COFR insurance guarantors accepted by the Director. A lead underwriter is considered one of the COFR insurance guarantors.

(2) The process for establishing and maintaining the acceptability of a COFR insurance guarantor is as follows:

(i) The COFR insurance guarantor must request an initial determination by the Director of the COFR insurance guarantor's acceptability to serve as a COFR insurance guarantor under this subpart, at least 90 days before the date a COFR is required, by submitting information describing the COFR insurance guarantor's structure, business practices, history, and financial strength, and such other information as may be requested by the Director.

(ii) Each COFR insurance guarantor must submit updates to the initial request submitted under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section, annually, within 90 days after the close of the COFR insurance guarantor's fiscal year, describing any material changes to the COFR insurance guarantor's legal status, structure, business practices, history, and financial strength, since the previous year's submission, and providing such other information as may be requested by the Director.

(a) The Director issues the following three types of COFRs as provided further in § 138.80: Individual Certificates, Fleet Certificates and Master Certificates.

(1) Submit, or cause to be submitted, to the Director, by one of the submission methods provided in § 138.60(c):

(i) An Application;

(A) For an Individual Certificate, list the name of the covered vessel, and the vessel's gross tonnage information, including the measurement system(s) used on the application;

(B) For a Fleet Certificate, instead of listing each individual barge, mark the box with the following statement: “This is an Application for a Fleet Certificate. The largest unmanned, non-self-propelled, non-tank barge to be covered by this Application is [INSERT APPLICABLE GROSS TONS] GT ITC and [INSERT GROSS TONNAGE] GRT”; and

(C) For a Master Certificate, instead of listing each individual vessel, mark the box with the following statement: “This is an Application for a Master Certificate. The largest tank vessel to be covered by this Application is [INSERT APPLICABLE GROSS TONS] GT ITC and [INSERT APPLICABLE GROSS TONS] GRT, as applicable. The largest vessel other than a tank vessel to be covered by this Application is [INSERT APPLICABLE GROSS TONS] GT ITC and [INSERT APPLICABLE GROSS TONS] GRT, as applicable.”

(ii) The evidence of financial responsibility using one of the guaranty methods provided in § 138.110;

(A) For a Fleet Certificate, the evidence of financial responsibility must be in the total applicable amount, determined as provided in § 138.100, for the largest unmanned, non-self-propelled, non-tank barge to be covered.

(B) For a Master Certificate, the evidence of financial responsibility must be in the total applicable amount determined as provided in § 138.100 for the largest tank vessel and largest non-tank vessel to be covered by the Master Certificate.

(iii) The agent for service of process designations required by § 138.130; and

(A) At the time of Application for a Master Certificate, the COFR Operator must submit a report to the Director, indicating: the name; previous name, if applicable; type; gross tonnage and measurement system(s) used, for each vessel covered by the Master Certificate, indicating which vessels, if any, are tank vessels. If a vessel has both a GT ITC and GRT tonnage, specify both gross tonnages.

(B) Six months after receiving a Master Certificate, and every 6 months thereafter, each COFR Operator must submit to the Director, an updated report, separately listing the vessels no longer covered by that Master Certificate. If a vessel has both a GT ITC and GRT, both gross tonnages must be specified. If a vessel has been transferred to another responsible party and the COFR Operator to whom the Master Certificate was issued ceases to be the vessel's operator, the COFR Operator must report the date and place of the transfer, and the name and contact information of the responsible party to whom the vessel was transferred. If the vessels covered by the Master Certificate have not changed from the previous report, the COFR Operator may submit an updated report that indicates no change from previous report.

(2) For COFR Operators using eCOFR as provided under § 138.60(c)(1)(i), credit card payment is required.

(b) Applicable amount means an OPA 90 or CERCLA evidence of financial responsibility amount determined to apply to a vessel as provided under § 138.100.

Application means an “Application for Vessel Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution)”, which the COFR Operator for one or more vessels has completed and verified in eCOFR, as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i), or signed, dated, and submitted to the NPFC by one of the submission methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

Cargo means goods or materials carried on board a vessel for purposes of transportation, whether proprietary or nonproprietary. A hazardous substance or oil carried solely for use aboard the carrying vessel is not cargo.

CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.).

COFR means a current Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution) issued by the Director, under this subpart, as provided in § 138.70, and posted on the NPFC COFR program website https://npfc.uscg.mil/cofr/default.aspx.

COFR Operator means a responsible party who conducts, or has responsibility for, the operation of a vessel to which this subpart applies—that is, a person who is an operator as defined in OPA 90 and CERCLA, and, when there is more than one responsible party (including more than one operator), is the operator designated and authorized by all the vessel's responsible parties to act on their behalf for the purpose of complying with this subpart, including submitting (or causing to be submitted) all Applications and requests for COFR renewal, evidence of financial responsibility and reports, and payment of all fees required by § 138.120.

(1) The COFR Operator must complete and either verify the Application in eCOFR as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i) or, if not using eCOFR, sign and date the hard-copy signature page of the Application and submit the signed Application to the Director, by one of the methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

(3) For COFR Operators submitting Applications and requests for COFR renewal under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv) (email, fax, and mail submissions), the fees must be paid by a check, cashier's check, draft, or postal money order, made payable to the “U.S. Coast Guard”. Cash payments will not be accepted.

(i) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) and (iii) (email and fax submissions, respectively), all fee payments must be received by the Director no later than 21 days following submission of the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(ii) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(iv) (mail submissions), all fee payments must be enclosed with the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(b) Applicable amount means an OPA 90 or CERCLA evidence of financial responsibility amount determined to apply to a vessel as provided under § 138.100.

Application means an “Application for Vessel Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution)”, which the COFR Operator for one or more vessels has completed and verified in eCOFR, as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i), or signed, dated, and submitted to the NPFC by one of the submission methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

Cargo means goods or materials carried on board a vessel for purposes of transportation, whether proprietary or nonproprietary. A hazardous substance or oil carried solely for use aboard the carrying vessel is not cargo.

CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.).

COFR means a current Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution) issued by the Director, under this subpart, as provided in § 138.70, and posted on the NPFC COFR program website https://npfc.uscg.mil/cofr/default.aspx.

COFR Operator means a responsible party who conducts, or has responsibility for, the operation of a vessel to which this subpart applies—that is, a person who is an operator as defined in OPA 90 and CERCLA, and, when there is more than one responsible party (including more than one operator), is the operator designated and authorized by all the vessel's responsible parties to act on their behalf for the purpose of complying with this subpart, including submitting (or causing to be submitted) all Applications and requests for COFR renewal, evidence of financial responsibility and reports, and payment of all fees required by § 138.120.

(b) Direct all questions concerning the requirements of this subpart to the NPFC at one of the addresses in paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section or by calling the NPFC at 202-795-6130.

(1) The COFR Operator must complete and either verify the Application in eCOFR as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i) or, if not using eCOFR, sign and date the hard-copy signature page of the Application and submit the signed Application to the Director, by one of the methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

(3) For COFR Operators submitting Applications and requests for COFR renewal under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv) (email, fax, and mail submissions), the fees must be paid by a check, cashier's check, draft, or postal money order, made payable to the “U.S. Coast Guard”. Cash payments will not be accepted.

(i) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) and (iii) (email and fax submissions, respectively), all fee payments must be received by the Director no later than 21 days following submission of the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(ii) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(iv) (mail submissions), all fee payments must be enclosed with the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(b) Applicable amount means an OPA 90 or CERCLA evidence of financial responsibility amount determined to apply to a vessel as provided under § 138.100.

Application means an “Application for Vessel Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution)”, which the COFR Operator for one or more vessels has completed and verified in eCOFR, as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i), or signed, dated, and submitted to the NPFC by one of the submission methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

Cargo means goods or materials carried on board a vessel for purposes of transportation, whether proprietary or nonproprietary. A hazardous substance or oil carried solely for use aboard the carrying vessel is not cargo.

CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.).

COFR means a current Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution) issued by the Director, under this subpart, as provided in § 138.70, and posted on the NPFC COFR program website https://npfc.uscg.mil/cofr/default.aspx.

COFR Operator means a responsible party who conducts, or has responsibility for, the operation of a vessel to which this subpart applies—that is, a person who is an operator as defined in OPA 90 and CERCLA, and, when there is more than one responsible party (including more than one operator), is the operator designated and authorized by all the vessel's responsible parties to act on their behalf for the purpose of complying with this subpart, including submitting (or causing to be submitted) all Applications and requests for COFR renewal, evidence of financial responsibility and reports, and payment of all fees required by § 138.120.

(b) Direct all questions concerning the requirements of this subpart to the NPFC at one of the addresses in paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section or by calling the NPFC at 202-795-6130.

(1) The COFR Operator must complete and either verify the Application in eCOFR as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i) or, if not using eCOFR, sign and date the hard-copy signature page of the Application and submit the signed Application to the Director, by one of the methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

(3) For COFR Operators submitting Applications and requests for COFR renewal under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv) (email, fax, and mail submissions), the fees must be paid by a check, cashier's check, draft, or postal money order, made payable to the “U.S. Coast Guard”. Cash payments will not be accepted.

(i) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) and (iii) (email and fax submissions, respectively), all fee payments must be received by the Director no later than 21 days following submission of the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(ii) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(iv) (mail submissions), all fee payments must be enclosed with the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(b) Applicable amount means an OPA 90 or CERCLA evidence of financial responsibility amount determined to apply to a vessel as provided under § 138.100.

Application means an “Application for Vessel Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution)”, which the COFR Operator for one or more vessels has completed and verified in eCOFR, as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i), or signed, dated, and submitted to the NPFC by one of the submission methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

Cargo means goods or materials carried on board a vessel for purposes of transportation, whether proprietary or nonproprietary. A hazardous substance or oil carried solely for use aboard the carrying vessel is not cargo.

CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.).

COFR means a current Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution) issued by the Director, under this subpart, as provided in § 138.70, and posted on the NPFC COFR program website https://npfc.uscg.mil/cofr/default.aspx.

COFR Operator means a responsible party who conducts, or has responsibility for, the operation of a vessel to which this subpart applies—that is, a person who is an operator as defined in OPA 90 and CERCLA, and, when there is more than one responsible party (including more than one operator), is the operator designated and authorized by all the vessel's responsible parties to act on their behalf for the purpose of complying with this subpart, including submitting (or causing to be submitted) all Applications and requests for COFR renewal, evidence of financial responsibility and reports, and payment of all fees required by § 138.120.

(b) Direct all questions concerning the requirements of this subpart to the NPFC at one of the addresses in paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section or by calling the NPFC at 202-795-6130.

(1) The COFR Operator must complete and either verify the Application in eCOFR as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i) or, if not using eCOFR, sign and date the hard-copy signature page of the Application and submit the signed Application to the Director, by one of the methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

(4) All required annual financial statements and declarations must be submitted to the Director within 90 days after the close of the self-insurer or financial guarantor's fiscal year. All required semi-annual financial statements and declarations must be submitted to the Director within 30 days after the close of the applicable 6-month period. The Director will grant an extension of the time limits for submissions under this paragraph only as provided in § 138.60(e).

(e) A failure to timely submit the reports required by this section may result in enforcement actions as provided in § 138.170. Exceptions to the reporting deadlines will only be granted as provided in § 138.60(e).

(b) The Director must receive the Application, evidence of financial responsibility, and other required supporting documentation, at least 21 days prior to the date the Certificate is required. The COFR Operator may seek an exception to the 21-day submission deadline only as provided in § 138.60(e)(3).

(b) The COFR Operator may seek an exception to the 21-day request for COFR renewal submission deadline in paragraph (a) of this section only as provided in § 138.60(e)(3).

(i) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) and (iii) (email and fax submissions, respectively), all fee payments must be received by the Director no later than 21 days following submission of the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(3) For COFR Operators submitting Applications and requests for COFR renewal under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv) (email, fax, and mail submissions), the fees must be paid by a check, cashier's check, draft, or postal money order, made payable to the “U.S. Coast Guard”. Cash payments will not be accepted.

(i) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) and (iii) (email and fax submissions, respectively), all fee payments must be received by the Director no later than 21 days following submission of the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(ii) For Applications and requests for COFR renewal submitted under § 138.60(c)(1)(iv) (mail submissions), all fee payments must be enclosed with the Application or request for COFR renewal.

(b) Applicable amount means an OPA 90 or CERCLA evidence of financial responsibility amount determined to apply to a vessel as provided under § 138.100.

Application means an “Application for Vessel Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution)”, which the COFR Operator for one or more vessels has completed and verified in eCOFR, as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i), or signed, dated, and submitted to the NPFC by one of the submission methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).

Cargo means goods or materials carried on board a vessel for purposes of transportation, whether proprietary or nonproprietary. A hazardous substance or oil carried solely for use aboard the carrying vessel is not cargo.

CERCLA means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.).

COFR means a current Certificate of Financial Responsibility (Water Pollution) issued by the Director, under this subpart, as provided in § 138.70, and posted on the NPFC COFR program website https://npfc.uscg.mil/cofr/default.aspx.

COFR Operator means a responsible party who conducts, or has responsibility for, the operation of a vessel to which this subpart applies—that is, a person who is an operator as defined in OPA 90 and CERCLA, and, when there is more than one responsible party (including more than one operator), is the operator designated and authorized by all the vessel's responsible parties to act on their behalf for the purpose of complying with this subpart, including submitting (or causing to be submitted) all Applications and requests for COFR renewal, evidence of financial responsibility and reports, and payment of all fees required by § 138.120.

(b) Direct all questions concerning the requirements of this subpart to the NPFC at one of the addresses in paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) through (iv) of this section or by calling the NPFC at 202-795-6130.

(1) The COFR Operator must complete and either verify the Application in eCOFR as provided in § 138.60(c)(1)(i) or, if not using eCOFR, sign and date the hard-copy signature page of the Application and submit the signed Application to the Director, by one of the methods specified in § 138.60(c)(1)(ii) through (iv).