For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 14, 2001

Presidential Memo on Marine War Risk Insurance Coverage

December 12, 2001

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

SUBJECT: Provision of Marine War Risk Insurance Coverage

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, including 3 U.S.C. 301 and section 1202 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended (the "Act"), 46 U.S.C. App. 1282, I hereby:

Approve the provision by the Secretary of Transportation of insurance or reinsurance of vessels (including cargoes and crew) entering the Middle East region against loss or damage by war risks in the manner and to the extent approved in title XII of the Act, 46 U.S.C. App. 1281, et seq., for purposes of responding to the recent terrorist attacks, whenever, after consultation with the Department of State, it appears to the Secretary of Transportation that such insurance adequate for the needs of the waterborne commerce of the United States cannot be obtained on reasonable terms and conditions from companies authorized to do an insurance business in a State of the United States. This approval is effective for 6 months. I hereby delegate to the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the authority vested in me by section 1202 of the Act, to approve the provision of insurance or reinsurance for these purposes after the expiration of 6 months.

The Secretary of Transportation is directed to bring this approval to the immediate attention of all operators and to arrange for its publication in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH

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