OMSA E-NEWSLETTER  Click Here for current issue.

STCW Proposed Mariner Credential Changes, Part II
Industry Reviews Proposed STCW Regulations at MERPAC Meeting
IRS Guidance Clarifies Depreciation on Offshore Vessels
Annual Non-Compliance Report for VGP Due in February
OMSA Annual Security Exercise Scheduled

U.S. SHIPBUILDERS/VESSEL OPERATORS SERVICING THE OFFSHORE MARKET GENERATE $18 BILLION IN ANNUAL SPENDING AND MORE THAN 100,000 JOBS!   Click here for details.  Click here for full study.

CURRENT NEWS 

IRS To Tax Foreign Vessels in Gulf of Mexico - 29 October 2009

The IRS posted an Industry Director's Directive (Industry Director's Directive #1: United
States Outer Continental Shelf Activity, LMSB-4-0909-037, dated October 28, 2009) providing
notice and direction to IRS field agents about foreign taxpayers engaged in activities related to the
exploration for, and exploitation of, natural resources on the U.S. outer continental shelf in the Gulf
of Mexico.  For details please click link . Also "Foreign-flag operators in the Gulf of Mexico target of stepped up U.S. tax enforcement" - in Professional Mariner Magazine. For details please click link

EPA NPDES Permit News - 25 January 2010 
The deadline for EPA Vessel Discharge Permit implementation was effective 6 February 2009! Are you conducting your Best Management Practices?

There is approximately one month to go before the majority of OMSA member vessels need to have submit their annual report of permit non-compliance to the EPA.

If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Sarah Branch at 504-734-7622.

OMSA and Coast Guard sign Partnership Agreement - 12 May 2009

The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) and the United States Coast Guard have formally executed the Offshore Support Vessel Industry Quality Partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the association and the Coast Guard. Specifically, the purpose of the partnership is to promote safety and security within the offshore industry and to protect marine environments. The agreement was signed by Otto Candies, III, Chairman of OMSA, and Rear Admiral Brian M. Salerno, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and Stewardship. The first meeting will be held on August 21, 2009. For details and photo please click link .