Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 92 Part 1.djvu/731

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PUBLIC LAW 95-000—MMMM. DD, 1978

PUBLIC LAW 95-372—SEPT. 18, 1978

92 STAT. 677

upon which the claim is presented, or of the date upon which advertising is commenced pursuant to section 306 of this title, whichever is later, an amount equal to or greater than the amount finally paid in satisfaction of the claim, the owner, operator, or guarantor shall be liable for the interest provided in this paragraph only from the date the offer is accepted by the claimant to the date upon which payment is made to the claimant, inclusive. (2) The interest provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be calculated at the average of the highest rate for commercial and finance company paper of maturities of one hundred and eighty days or less obtaining on each of the days included within the period for which interest must be paid to the claimant, as published in the Federal Reserve Bulletin. (h) Nothing in this title shall bar a cause of action that an owner or operator, subject to liability under subsection (a) of this section, or a guarantor, has or would have, by reason of subrogation or otherwise, against any person. (i) To the extent that they are in conflict or otherwise inconsistent with any other provision of law relating to liability or the limitation thereof, the provisions of this section shall supersede such other provision of law, including section 4283(a) of the Revised Statutes (46 U.S.C.183(a)). FINANCIAL, RESPGNSIBIIrlTY

SEC. 305. (a)(1) The owner or operator of any vessel (except a non-self-propelled barge that does not carry oil as fuel or cargo) which uses an offshore facility shall establish and maintain, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the President, evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to satisfy the maximum amount of liability to which the owner or operator of such vessel would be exposed in a case where he would be entitled to limit his liability in accordance with the provisions of section 304(b) of this title. Financial responsibility may be established by any one, or any combination, of the following methods, acceptable to the President: evidence of insurance, guarantee, surety bond, or qualification as a self-insurer. Any bond filed shall be issued by a bonding company authorized to do business in the United States. In any case where an owner or operator owns, operates, or charters more than one vessel subject to this subsection, evidence of financial responsibility need be established only to meet the maximum liability applicable to the largest of such vessels. (2) The Secretary, in accordance with regulations promulgated by him, shall— (A) deny entry to any port or place in the United States or to the navigable waters to; and (B) detain at the port or place in the United States from which it is about to depart for any other port or place in the United States, any A^essel subject to this subsection which, upon request, does not produce certification furnished by the President that such vessel is in compliance wath the financial responsibility provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection. (3) The Secretary, in accordance with regulations promulgated by him, shall have access to all offshore facilities and vessels conducting activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and such facilities and vessels shall, upon request, show certification of financial responsibility.

Regulations.

43 USC 1815.

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Regulations,

Regulations, 43 USC 1331 note.