[§128D-6.5]  Limitation of liability for heavy fuel oil releases.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the liability of any person under section 128D-6 for any release of heavy fuel oil from a tank barge carrying heavy fuel oil interisland shall not exceed $700,000,000.

     (b)  For the purposes of subsection (a):

     "Heavy fuel oil" includes petroleum that is no. 6 technical grades of fuel oil and other grades such as navy special fuel oil and bunker C.

     "Release of heavy fuel oil" means a release subject to the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990.

     "Tank barge" means any vessel that carries oil in bulk as cargo or in residue and is not equipped with a means of self propulsion. [L 1996, c 315, §1]