Please refer to the JAPAN P&I NEWS No.994 dated 22 November 2018. We had advised that EPA decided to tentatively extend the 2013 VGP and no Notices of Intent (NOI) could be submitted after expiration of the VGP on 19 December 2018.

With the enactment of the Vessel incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) signed into law on 4 December 2018, this expiration date is no longer applicable and the majority of VGP features remain in effect.

Regarding some exceptions and additions, please see the attached ECM Maritime Services Client Alert 27-2018.

EPA's website on the VGP is as follows.

https://www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels-vgp