Chevron’s Bayou Casotte Terminal - Access Problems

We are grateful to Maynard Cooper & Gale in Mobile, Alabama for the following advice:

In recent instances in which there have been issues with the quality/specifications or the quantity of the cargo of pet coke being loaded at this facility, or involving damage to the vessel while at the terminal, Chevron has not allowed third party maritime surveyors access to the terminal.  This means that Members will be unable to obtain the first hand assistance of maritime surveyors to consult on issues of quality/specifications and nor will maritime surveyors be permitted access to the terminal to conduct a draft survey for Members. 

In these instances the Master is advised to tender a Letter of Protest to the terminal stating that the vessel will not be responsible for the quality or quantity (as the case may be) of the cargo due to the fact that the terminal has denied access to the vessel’s independent maritime surveyor.

In fact, there is only one ship’s agency that Chevron will allow on the premises.  It is also our understanding that P&I correspondents and other third party consultants for the vessel will not be granted access to the pet coke terminal. 

It may be possible to hire a private launch to transport third parties to the outboard side of the vessel so that they can board and conduct appropriate business on the vessel.  However, it is not known if Chevron would approve of such access and the consequences are therefore unpredictable.

Contact details for Maynard Cooper & Gale are as follows:

RSA Battle House Tower, Suite 27000
11 N. Water Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602

Telephone
1 251 206 7439/7438/7437
1 251 300 6292

Facsimile
1 251 432 0007

Email
true@maynardcooper.com
dhannan@maynardcooper.com
jbetbeze@maynardcooper.com
bsegarra@maynardcooper.com

Web address
www.maynardcooper.com