News 23 Nov, 2015

USA – Increases in Limits of Liability Under OPA`90

The United States Coast Guard has recently published a final rule announcing that the limits of liability for vessels under OPA'90 are to be increased by around 10% to reflect rises in the Consumer Price Index. The amended limits are effective as from 21 December 2015 and details are set out in the table below:

Source category	Previous limit of liability	New limit of liability
(1) The OPA 90 limits of liability for tank vessels, other than edible oil tank vessels and oil spill response vessels, are:
(i) For a single-hull tank vessel greater than 3,000 gross tons,	the greater of $3,200 per gross ton or $23,496,000.	The greater of $3,500 per gross ton or $25,845,600.
(ii) For a tank vessel greater than 3,000 gross tons, other than a single-hull tank vessel,	the greater of $2,000 per gross ton or $17,088,000.	The greater of $2,200 per gross ton or $18,796,800.
(iii) For a single-hull tank vessel less than or equal to 3,000 gross tons,	the greater of $3,200 per gross ton or $6,408,000.	The greater of $3,500 per gross ton or $7,048,800.
(iv) For a tank vessel less than or equal to 3,000 gross tons other than a single-hull tank vessel,	the greater of $2,000 per gross ton or $4,272,000.	The greater of $2,200 per gross ton or $4,699,200.
(2) The OPA 90 limits of liability for any vessel other including for any edible tank vessel and any oil spill response vessels, are:	the greater of $1,000 per gross ton or $854,400.	The greater of $1,100 per gross ton or $939,800.