b'NEWSWIREFile Your Vessel General Permit Annual Report by February 28 P VAremindsmemberswhosewaters (other than sewage) and sets outof 400 gross tons or more, (medium vesselsaresubjecttocoverageexpected best management practices. cruiseshipsandlargecruiseships) under the Environmental Pro- mayhavetofillouttheadditional tection Agencys (EPA) Vessel GeneralSmall vessels of less than 79 feet thatgraywaterandbilgewatermonitor-Permit (VGP), to file the required an- donotdischargeballastwaterareing requirements.nual report no later than February 28,permanently exempt from the VGP 2026,coveringactivitiesconductedrequirements. Responding to PVAsA copy of the full 2013 VGP can be from Jan. 1Dec. 31, 2025. advocacy efforts, Congress codifiedfoundhere;seepages181-189fora thispermanentexemptioninDe- sample of the annual report. The 2013 The EPA requires that the report becember 2018. VGP is the current and most recent ver-filed electronically through its onlinesion of the regulation for compliance.system. File your annual report wellFor most PVA members that operate inadvanceofthedeadlineasfilerscovered vessels with no ballast waterQUESTIONSwaitinguntilthelastminutehavedischarges,theannualreportitselfIf you have questions for the EPA re-sometimesencountereddifficultieswill be relatively simple to complete.garding the VGP electronic reporting with the online system.A few operators of newly built vesselssystem, email VGPeNOI@epa.gov.HOW TO SUBMIT ANNUAL REPORTSFirst, register in the EPAs free, on-linesystemtosubmitelectronic reportsattheEPAsCentralData Exchange (CDX).Ifyouregisteredforthe2008VGP, you must update your registration to submit 2013 VGP reports. Onceregistered,submitannualre- DIGITAL SHIPBUILDERSports at EPAs 2013 VGP eNOI Sys-DESIGN. BUILD. CONSULT.tem using your CDX username andincatcrowther.compasswordtologin.Youmaysubmit multiplereportsatatimeusinga batch upload function. WHO NEEDS TO APPLYThe VGP applies to any commercial vessel of 79 feet or greater in length, or a vessel of any size that discharges ballast water. It authorizes the vessel discharge of numerous types of waste-YANKEE FREEDOM IV34m Catamaran Passenger Ferry39 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026'