The Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) is specifically addressed in 33 CFR 138. This regulation outlines the requirements for owners and operators of certain vessels to establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility in order to cover potential liabilities for oil spills and other related incidents. This regulation is essential for ensuring that vessel operators can provide compensation for damages caused by pollution events, thus promoting environmental protection and accountability within the maritime industry.
In this context, it’s important to recognize that the other CFR sites mentioned do cover other related maritime regulations but do not specifically pertain to the Certificate of Financial Responsibility. For instance, 33 CFR 121 relates to facilities for the transfer of oil and hazardous substances, while 33 CFR 152 has more to do with the definition of certain facilities and regulations in relation to the Oil Pollution Act. Meanwhile, 33 CFR 198 deals with the Coast Guard's regulations regarding financial responsibility in other aspects but does not directly address the certificate itself, which is why 33 CFR 138 is the key reference for COFR.