1 of 3 JUNE 1, 2010 CIRCULAR NO. 14/10 TO MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION Dear Member: DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL - GENERAL INFORMATION AND UPDATES It has been over a month since the DEEPWATER HORIZON incident in the Gulf of Mexico first occurred and, unfortunately, the oil spill has not abated since then. Your Managers issued a Member Alert on May 4, 2010 to provide some initial advice and guidance on the environmental implications of the spill. Due to the severity of the incident and the expected length of subsequent clean-up operations, your Managers thought it would be helpful to set out websites and other sources of information from which Members can obtain details about port operations, vessel decontamination sites, and claims processes against British Petroleum (BP) for alleged losses, damages and costs incurred as a result of the spill. Port operations / US Coast Guard / spill response For general information regarding the DEEPWATER HORIZON incident and the response to the spill, Members are directed to www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com . Additionally, for US Coast Guard information about the ports below, including vessel decontamination sites (which are discussed separately herein) and Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs), the following websites can be consulted: • New Orleans, Louisiana - http://homeport.uscg.mil/nola • Morgan City, Louisiana - http://homeport.uscg.mil/morgancity • Mobile, Alabama - http://homeport.uscg.mil/mobile • Tampa / St. Petersburg, Florida - http://homeport.uscg.mil/stpetersburg • Houston / Galveston - http://homeport.uscg.mil/houstongalveston Members’ vessels expecting to call at these ports should also check the websites for their respective port authorities, such as the Alabama State Port Authority (http://www.asdd.com ) and the Port of New Orleans, Louisiana (http://www.portno.com ) for any bulletins or updates. Members should also consult their local agents to make sure that the most up-to-date information is obtained for contemplated voyages through or to the affected region. General recommendations Whenever practicable, Members should try their best to avoid known spill areas so as to obviate the risk of hull contamination and the need for hull cleaning. 2 of 3 Vessels that must transit affected areas should maintain a safe speed through any oil which appears light, bright and on the surface. Vessels should similarly make every effort to avoid pockets of heavy black oil, while ensuring safe navigation and refraining from stopping or anchoring offshore while awaiting transit into pilot-assisted areas. Finally, Members should ensure that their vessels avoid striking any existing containment booms placed in locations designated by the US Coast Guard. NOAA spill area projections and updates As noted in the Member Alert of May 4, 2010, Members are encouraged to refer to the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/index.php for the latest projected paths and known areas of the oil slick. Designated hull decontamination / cleaning stations The MSIBs issued by the US Coast Guard for each port sector set forth the designated areas where hull cleaning operations are being performed. Two recent bulletins issued by the New Orleans and Mobile US Coast Guard sectors are attached hereto for Members’ ready reference. As will be seen, they list vessel decontamination sites near the ports of New Orleans (LA), Bienville (MS), Gulfport (MS), Pa