USCG
Electronic Notice of Arrival (ENOA) = this is the system whereby the ship or ship Owner provides advance notice of a ship’s intended visit to the U.S. along with a variety of information about the vessel, where she has been, her certificates and the crew who are onboard. Vessels arriving from foreign are required to provide at least 96 hour advance notice. Vessels arriving from foreign ports which are closer than 96 hours away can be granted some dispensation from the entire time requirement. Vessels arriving from another U.S. port are required to provide at least 24 hour advance notice. In most cases the date and time of arrival should coincide with the 1st place of arrival (anchorage or berth). Detailed info regarding format for submission and other guidelines can be found at www.nvmc.uscg.gov/. If a vessel or ship Owner are not prepared for submitting an enoa/enod there are 3rd party companies that provide this service and we can get you started. Failure to submit timely most likely will result in delays in being allowed into the port.
Electronic Notice of Departure (ENOD) = this is the system whereby the ship or ship Owner provides advance notice of a ship’s intended departure from the U.S. (not U.S. to U.S., but U.S. to foreign). It must be submitted at least 1 hour prior to departure, but due to the uncertain nature of satellite connections, etc. we highly recommend that same gets submitted once the sailing pilot is booked (3-4 hours prior to departure). Failure for timely submission can result in a fine, and is hotly pursued by CBP Houston/Galveston.
Transportation Worker’s Identification Card (TWIC) = almost all public and private docks in the U.S. Gulf require visitors to have a TWIC in their possession in order to access the facility. Persons without a TWIC will need to hire an approved escort to and from the gate to the ship’s gangway. Details and info about obtaining a TWIC can be found at https://www.tsa.gov/stakeholders/transportation-worker-identification-credential-twic.
Obtaining a TWIC takes a few weeks for U.S. citizens. Foreigners can obtain TWIC, but it takes even longer, and it needs to be done in person.
Ballast Water Exchange between U.S. Ports = please note the following from the USCG, quote:
For vessel voyages that do not take the vessel more than 200NM from shore, or if the vessel does not transit beyond 200NM from shore for long enough to complete ballast water exchange:
* You are not required to conduct ballast water exchange.
Generally: If the vessel transits in waters greater than 200 NM from shore, the vessel must complete ballast water exchange (33 CFR 151.2035 (b).
However, if the voyage does not take the vessel beyond 200 NM from shore, the vessel is not required to deviate its course out to 200 NM from to complete the ballast water exchange. (33 CFR 151.2036) In such cases, the vessel must discharge only that amount of ballast water operationally necessary to ensure the safety of the vessels for cargo operations. (33 CFR 151.2037)
NVIC 07-04, Enclosure (2), pg 5 offers the following discussion on this situation:
"Masters are not required to divert or delay a voyage in order to conduct mid-ocean BWE [33 CFR 151.2036]. Whenever a vessel enters U.S. waters after operating beyond the EEZ, but cannot conduct mid-ocean BWE because the voyage to the U.S. was such that the vessel did not transit outside 200 NM of any coast for enough time to conduct exchange, the vessel must retain its un-exchanged ballast water while operating in U.S. waters and only discharge the minimal amount of un-exchanged ballast water that is operationally necessary to safely conduct cargo operations [33 CFR 151.2037]. Such situations may be likely for vessels that enter the U.S. EEZ from a Caribbean, Canadian, or South American port where a direct transit to the U.S. may not take the vessel more than 200 NM from shore for sufficient time to conduct BWE before reaching their U.S. destination."
General Information:
Title 33 CFR 151 Subpart D provides the U.S. Ballast Water Management regulations for vessels. You can view these regulations at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_07/33cfr151_07.html.
Further guidance regarding Ballast Water Management regulations are provided in NVIC 07-04 and on our web page at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg522/cg5224/bwm.asp.
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Low Sulphur Fuel Oil requirements = please see here.