Background USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has done in recent years a lot of work concerning Pollutant Discharge Elimination. Currently work for the Vessel General Permit (VGP) for vessels operating in US waters above 79 feet is released and the final VGP rule indicates final date for implementation the 19th of February, 2009. EPA rules about 26 kinds of potential pollutants from each vessel. Each company operating vessels in US area has to accommodate controls for all these pollution sources and comply accordingly.

IBS Approach

We may provide the following documentation related items to properly implement the Vessel General Permit Requirements

• Development of Vessel General Permit (VGP) Vessel Specific Manuals
• Revision of your existing SMS to properly integrate VGP requirements
• Tuning of your EMS/ISO 14001 system to VGP Requirements
• Revise / Update your Vessel Specific Ballast Management Plan(s)

Benefits

We ensure that the documentation developed will be:

• Fully tailored to client specific requirements in line with Best Practices identified so far
• Consistent with Company Operations, Training and document Control Policy 
• Accompanied with training material for the use of shipboard staff in order to accelerate introduction onboard 
• Up to date with future legislation in accordance with our Support Policy