Client Circular: Trading to Guyana – Material Changes to Oil Spill Liability and Financial Assurance

Guyana has enacted a fundamentally new oil pollution liability regime that significantly alters the risk, compliance, and financial assurance landscape for vessels trading to or operating within its waters. The Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Act 2025 introduces strict, uncapped liability for oil pollution damage and empowers regulators to deny port entry, detain vessels, or impose substantial fines for non compliance. This Circular outlines the key regulatory changes, clarifies common misconceptions around financial assurance thresholds, and sets out immediate action points for shipowners, operators, and charterers to maintain uninterrupted access to Guyanese ports.