Donjon-SMIT and MSRC announce alliance to assist shipowners
Donjon-SMIT and Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) are pleased to announce the establishment of a cooperative alliance. This alliance, while it can support both tank and non-tank vessel owners, will include the ability of non-tank vessel owners to establish their pre-arranged agreements with both Donjon-SMIT and MSRC, required under recent NTVRP regulations by January 30, 2014 through enrollment linkages on either company’s website, as well as cooperation between the two companies in the event of a spill response or salvage/firefighting incident, Donjon-SMIT said in a press release.
“We are very excited about this alliance and the enhanced services it will allow us to offer our customers,” Donjon-SMIT President Raymond Lord said. “To have an alliance with MSRC, the largest, dedicated oil spill and emergency response organization in the United States, is a tremendous opportunity that will result in our being able to offer the best, most robust and state-of-the-art resources for marine salvage and oil spill response in the nation.”
MSRC President and CEO Steve Benz said, “Often times in a shipping event, a spill response or the threat of a spill response is closely associated with a potential salvage and firefighting challenge. Shipping customers of both MSRC and Donjon-SMIT will have the benefit of knowing that between the two companies the best and most efficient resources will be determined to make for a successful response.”
While this cooperative alliance will facilitate and support customers of both organizations in operations as well as compliance with OPA-90, it is important to note that there is no exclusivity requiring customers of either organization to contract exclusively with the other. Both Donjon-SMIT and MSRC recognize that operational choices and relationships may impact decisions on OPA-90 contracting.
The Marine Spill Response Corporation is a not-for-profit, U.S. Coast Guard Classified Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO) formed in 1990 to offer oil spill response services and mitigate damage to the environment. MSRC provides marine oil and oil-related OPA 90 related spill response and clean-up services to organizations involved in the handling and transport of oil and other substances. An extensive inventory of response equipment in its arsenal is stored and maintained at MSRC's pre-positioned equipment sites across the U.S. MSRC's capabilities are augmented by its Spill Team Area Responders (STARs) contractor network. This nationwide network includes over 100 companies at over 200 locations. MSRC is funded exclusively by the Marine Preservation Association (MPA). MPA is comprised of companies operating in the petroleum, energy and related transportation industries. This includes many of the largest oil and gas companies, and their related shipping companies, in the world.
Donjon-SMIT is a unique provider of OPA-90 maritime vessel emergency response services in which the more than 200 years of corporate expertise of Donjon Marine and SMIT Salvage is combined. The joint venture provides marine salvage, lightering and firefighting services for compliance and response related to OPA-90 requirements.