Appendix A to Subpart A of Part 540—Example of Escrow Agreement for Use Under 46 

CFR 540.5(b)

ESCROW AGREEMENT

THIS ESCROW AGREEMENT, made as of this __ day of (month & year), by and between 

(Customer), a corporation/company having a place of business at (“Customer”) 

_________________ and (Banking Institution name & address) a banking corporation, having a 

place of business at (“Escrow Agent”).

Witnesseth:

WHEREAS, Customer wishes to establish an escrow account in order to provide for the 

indemnification of passengers in the event of non-performance of water transportation to which 

such passengers would be entitled, and to establish Customer's financial responsibility therefore; 

and

WHEREAS, Escrow Agent wishes to act as Escrow Agent of the escrow account 

established hereunder;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants contained herein and 

other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby 

acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

1. Customer has established on (month, & year) (the “Commencement Date”) an escrow

account with the Escrow Agent which escrow account shall hereafter be governed by the terms 

of this Agreement (the “Escrow Account”). Escrow Agent shall maintain the Escrow Account in 

its name, in its capacity as Escrow Agent.

2. Customer will determine, as of the date prior to the Commencement Date, the amount of

unearned passenger revenue, including any funds to be transferred from any predecessor Escrow 

Agent. Escrow Agent shall have no duty to calculate the amount of unearned passenger revenue. 

Unearned Passenger Revenues are defined as that passenger revenue received for water 

transportation and all other accommodations, services and facilities relating thereto not yet 

performed. 46 CFR 540.2(i). 

3. Customer will deposit on the Commencement Date into the Escrow Account cash in an

amount equal to the amount of Unearned Passenger Revenue determined under Paragraph 2 

above plus a cash amount (“the Fixed Amount”) equal to (10 percent of the Customer's highest 

Unearned Passenger Revenue for the prior two fiscal years. For periods on or after (year of 

agreement (2009)), the Fixed Amount shall be determined by the Commission on an annual 

basis, in accordance with 46 CFR Part 540. 

4. Customer acknowledges and agrees that until such time as a cruise has been completed

and Customer has taken the actions described herein, Customer shall not be entitled, nor shall it 

have any interest in any funds deposited with Escrow Agent to the extent such funds represent 

Unearned Passenger Revenue.
5. Customer may, at any time, deposit additional funds consisting exclusively of Unearned 

Passenger Revenue and the Fixed Amount, into the Escrow Account and Escrow Agent shall 

accept all such funds for deposit and shall manage all such funds pursuant to the terms of this 

Agreement.

6. After the establishment of the Escrow Account, as provided in Paragraph 1, Customer 

shall on a weekly basis on each (identify day of week), or if Customer or Escrow Agent is not 

open for business on (identify day of week) then on the next business day that Customer and 

Escrow Agent are open for business recompute the amount of Unearned Passenger Revenue as of 

the close of business on the preceding business day (hereinafter referred to as the “Determination 

Date”) and deliver a Recomputation Certificate to Escrow Agent on such date. In each such 

weekly recomputation Customer shall calculate the amount by which Unearned Passenger 

Revenue has decreased due to (i) the cancellation of reservations and the corresponding refund of 

monies from Customer to the persons or entities canceling such reservations; (ii) the amount 

which Customer has earned as revenue as a result of any cancellation fee charged upon the 

cancellation of any reservations; (iii) the amount which Customer has earned due to the 

completion of cruises; and (iv) the amount by which Unearned Passenger Revenue has increased 

due to receipts from passengers for future water transportation and all other accommodations, 

services and facilities relating thereto and not yet performed. 

The amount of Unearned Passenger Revenue as recomputed shall be compared with the 

amount of Unearned Passenger Revenue for the immediately preceding period to determine 

whether there has been a net increase or decrease in Unearned Passenger Revenue. If the balance 

of the Escrow Account as of the Determination Date exceeds the sum of the amount of Unearned 

Passenger Revenue, as recomputed, plus the Fixed Amount then applicable, then Escrow Agent 

shall make any excess funds in the Escrow Account available to Customer. If the balance in the 

Escrow Account as of the Determination Date is less than the sum of the amount of Unearned 

Passenger Revenue, as recomputed, plus an amount equal to the Fixed Amount, Customer shall 

deposit an amount equal to such deficiency with the Escrow Agent. Such deposit shall be made 

in immediately available funds via wire transfer or by direct transfer from the Customer's U.S. 

Bank checking account before the close of business on the next business day following the day 

on which the Recomputation Certificate is received by Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall 

promptly notify the Commission within two business days any time a deposit required by a 

Recomputation Certificate delivered to the Escrow Agent is not timely made. 

7. Customer shall furnish a Recomputation Certificate, in substantially the form attached 

hereto as Annex 1, to the Federal Maritime Commission (the “Commission”) and to the Escrow 

Agent setting forth the weekly recomputation of Unearned Passenger Revenue required by the 

terms of Paragraph 6 above. Customer shall mail or fax to the Commission and deliver to the 

Escrow Agent the required Recomputation Certificate before the close of business on the 

business day on which Customer recomputes the amount of Unearned Passenger Revenue. 

Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, Escrow Agent shall not make any 

funds available to Customer out of the Escrow Account because of a decrease in the amount of 

Unearned Passenger Revenue or otherwise, until such time as Escrow Agent receives the above 

described Recomputation Certificate from Customer, which Recomputation Certificate shall 
include the Customer's verification certification in the form attached hereto as Annex 1. The 

copies of each Recomputation Certificate to be furnished to the Commission shall be mailed to 

the Commission at the address provided in Paragraph 25 herein. If copies are not mailed to the 

Commission, faxed or emailed copies shall be treated with the same legal effect as if an original 

signature was furnished. No repayment of the Fixed Amount may be made except upon approval 

of the Commission. 

Within fifteen (15) days after the end of each calendar month, Escrow Agent shall provide 

to Customer and to the Commission at the addresses provided in Paragraph 25 below, a 

comprehensive statement of the Escrow Account. Such statement shall provide a list of assets in 

the Escrow Account, the balance thereof as of the beginning and end of the month together with 

the original cost and current market value thereof, and shall detail all transactions that took place 

with respect to the assets and investments in the Escrow Account during the preceding month. 

8. At the end of each quarter of Customer's fiscal year, Customer shall cause the

independent auditors then acting for it to conduct an examination in accordance with generally 

accepted auditing standards with respect to the weekly Recomputation Certificates furnished by 

Customer of the Unearned Passenger Revenues and the amounts to be deposited in the Escrow 

Account and to express their opinion within forty-five (45) days after the end of such quarter as 

to whether the calculations at the end of each fiscal quarter are in accordance with the provisions 

of Paragraph 6 of this Agreement. The determination of Unearned Passenger Revenue of such 

independent auditors shall have control over any computation of Unearned Passenger Revenue 

by Customer in the event of any difference between such determinations. To the extent that the 

actual amount of the Escrow Account is less than the amount determined by such independent 

auditors to be required to be on deposit in the Escrow Account, Customer shall immediately 

deposit an amount of cash into the Escrow Account sufficient to cause the balance of the Escrow 

Account to equal the amount determined to be so required. Such deposit shall be completed no 

later than the business day after receipt by the Escrow Agent of the auditor's opinion containing 

the amount of such deficiency. 

The opinion of such independent auditors shall be furnished by such auditors directly to 

Customer, to the Commission and to the Escrow Agent at their addresses contained in this 

Agreement. In the event that a required deposit to the Escrow Agent is not made within one 

Business Day after receipt of an auditor's report or a Recomputation Certificate, Escrow Agent 

shall send notification to the Commission within the next two Business Days. 

9. Escrow Agent shall invest the funds in the Escrow Account in Qualified Investments as

directed by Customer in its sole and absolute discretion. “Qualified Investments” means, to the 

extent permitted by applicable law:

(a) Government obligations or obligations of any agency or instrumentality of the United

States of America;

(b) Commercial paper issued by a United States company rated in the two highest numerical

“A” categories (without regard to further gradation or refinement of such rating category) by 
Standard & Poor's Corporation, or in the two highest numerical “Prime” categories (without 

regard to further gradation or refinement of such rating) by Moody's Investor Services, Inc.; 

(c) Certificates of deposit and money market accounts issued by any United States bank,

savings institution or trust company, including the Escrow Agent, and time deposits of any bank, 

savings institution or trust company, including the Escrow Agent, which are fully insured by the 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; 

(d) Corporate bonds or obligations which are rated by Standard & Poor's Corporation or

Moody's Investors Service, Inc. in one of their three highest rating categories (without regard to 

any gradation or refinement of such rating category by a numerical or other modifier); and 

(e) Money market funds registered under the Federal Investment Company Act of 1940, as

amended, and whose shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 

whose shares are rated “AAA”, “AA + ” or “AA” by Standard & Poor's Corporation. 

10. All interest and other profits earned on the amounts placed in the Escrow Account shall

be credited to Escrow Account. 

11. This Agreement has been entered into by the parties hereto, and the Escrow Account has

been established hereunder by Customer, to establish the financial responsibility of Customer as 

the owner, operator or charterer of the passenger vessel(s) (see Exhibit A), in accordance with 46 

CFR Part 540, Subpart A. The Escrow Account shall be held by Escrow Agent in accordance 

with the terms hereof, to be utilized to discharge Customer's legal liability to indemnify the 

passengers of the named vessel(s) for non-performance of transportation within the meaning of 

46 CFR 540.2(m). The Escrow Agent shall make indemnification payments pursuant to written 

instructions from Customer, on which the Escrow Agent may rely, or in the event that: 

(1) the passenger makes a request for refund from the Principal in accordance with the

ticket contract. 

(2) In the event the passenger is unable to resolve the claim within 180 days, or such shorter

claim resolution period for which the PVO’s claims procedure provides, after nonperformance of 

transportation occurs or if the claim is denied by the PVO, the passenger may submit a claim 

against the Escrow Account as per instructions on the Commission website. The claim may 

include a copy of the boarding pass, proof and amount of payment, cancellation notice, and dated 

proof of properly filed claim against the Principal. All documentation must clearly display the 

vessel and voyage with scheduled and actual date of sailing. And, The Escrow Agent shall make 

indemnification payments pursuant to written instructions from Customer, on which the Escrow 

Agent may rely, or in the event that such legal liability has not been discharged by Customer 

within twenty-one (21) days after any such passenger has obtained a final judgment (after appeal, 

if any) against Customer from a United States Federal or State Court of competent jurisdiction 

the Escrow Agent is authorized to pay funds out of the Escrow Account, after such twenty-one 

day period, in accordance with and pursuant to the terms of an appropriate order of a court of 

competent jurisdiction on receipt of a certified copy of such order. 

(3) Valid claims must be paid within 90 days of submission to the Escrow Agent.
As further security for Customer's obligation to provide water transportation to passengers 

holding tickets for transportation on the passenger vessel(s) (see Exhibit A) Customer will 

pledge to each passenger who has made full or partial payment for future passage on the named 

vessel(s) an interest in the Escrow Account equal to such payment. Escrow Agent is hereby 

notified of and acknowledges such pledges. Customers' instructions to Escrow Agent to release 

funds from the Escrow Account as described in this Agreement shall constitute a certification by 

Customer of the release of pledge with respect to such funds due to completed, canceled or 

terminated cruises. Furthermore, Escrow Agent agrees to hold funds in the Escrow Account until 

directed by Customer or a court order to release such funds as described in this Agreement. 

Escrow Agent shall accept instructions only from Customer, acting on its own behalf or as agent 

for its passengers, and shall not have any obligations at any time to act pursuant to instructions of 

Customer's passengers or any other third parties except as expressly described herein. Escrow 

Agent hereby waives any right of offset to which it is or may become entitled with regard to the 

funds on deposit in the Escrow Account which constitute Unearned Passenger Revenue.

12. Customer agrees to provide to the Escrow Agent all information necessary to facilitate

the administration of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent may rely upon any information so 

provided. 

13. Customer hereby warrants and represents that it is a corporation in good standing in its

State of organization and that is qualified to do business in the State of . Customer further 

warrants and represents that (i) it possesses full power and authority to enter into this Agreement 

and fulfill its obligations hereunder and (ii) that the execution, delivery and performance of this 

Agreement have been authorized and approved by all required corporate actions. 

14. Escrow Agent hereby warrants and represents that it is a national banking association in

good standing. Escrow Agent further warrants and represents that (i) it has full power and 

authority to enter into this Agreement and fulfill its obligations hereunder and (ii) that the 

execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been authorized and approved by 

all required corporate actions.

15. This Agreement shall have a term of one (1) year and shall be automatically renewed for

successive one (1) year terms unless notice of intent not to renew is delivered to the other party 

to this Agreement and to the Commission at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current 

term of this Agreement. Notice shall be given by certified mail to the parties at the addresses 

provided in Paragraph 25 below. Notice shall be given by certified mail to the Commission at the 

address specified in this Agreement. 

16. (a) Customer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Escrow Agent against any

and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, cost and expenses, including litigation, arising 

hereunder, which might be imposed or incurred on Escrow Agent for any acts or omissions of 

the Escrow Agent or Customer, not caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the 

Escrow Agent. The indemnification set forth herein shall survive the resignation or removal of 

the Escrow Agent and the termination of this agreement. 
(b) In the event of any disagreement between parties which result in adverse claims with

respect to funds on deposit with Escrow Agent or the threat thereof, Escrow Agent may refuse to 

comply with any demands on it with respect thereto as long as such disagreement shall continue 

and in so refusing, Escrow Agent need not make any payment and Escrow Agent shall not be or 

become liable in any way to Customer or any third party (whether for direct, incidental, 

consequential damages or otherwise) for its failure or refusal to comply with such demands and 

it shall be entitled to continue so to refrain from acting and so refuse to act until such conflicting 

or adverse demands shall finally terminate by mutual written agreement acceptable to Escrow 

Agent or by a final, non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 

17. Escrow Agent shall be entitled to such compensation for its services hereunder as may

be agreed upon from time to time by Escrow Agent and Customer and which shall initially be set 

forth in a separate letter agreement between Escrow Agent and Customer. This Agreement shall 

not become effective until such letter agreement has been executed by both parties hereto and

confirmed in writing to the Commission.

18. Customer may terminate this Agreement and engage a successor escrow agent, after

giving at least 90 days written termination notice to Escrow Agent prior to terminating Escrow 

Agent if such successor agent is a commercial bank whose passbook accounts are insured by the 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and such successor agrees to the terms of this agreement, 

or if there is a new agreement then such termination shall not be effective until the new 

agreement is approved in writing by the Commission. Upon giving the written notice to 

Customer and the Commission, Escrow Agent may terminate any and all duties and obligations 

imposed on Escrow Agent by this Agreement effective as of the date specified in such notice, 

which date shall be at least 90 days after the date such notice is given. All escrowed funds as of 

the termination date specified in the notice shall be turned over to the successor escrow agent, or 

if no successor escrow agent has been named within 90 days after the giving of such notice, then 

all such escrowed funds for sailing scheduled to commence after the specified termination date 

shall be returned to the person who paid such passage fares upon written approval of the 

Commission. In the event of any such termination where the Escrow Agent shall be returning 

payments to the passengers, then Escrow Agent shall request from Customer a list of passenger 

names, addresses, deposit/fare amounts and other information needed to make refunds. On 

receipt of such list, Escrow Agent shall return all passage fares held in the Escrow Account as of 

the date of termination specified in the notice to the passengers, excepting only amounts 

Customer is entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement for cruises completed 

through the termination date specified in the notice, and all interest which shall be paid to 

Customer. 

In the event of termination of this Agreement and if alternative evidence of financial 

responsibility has been accepted by the Commission and written evidence satisfactory to Escrow 

Agent of the Commission's acceptance is presented to Escrow Agent, then Escrow Agent shall 

release to Customer all passage fares held in the Escrow Account as of the date of termination 

specified in the notice. In the event of any such termination where written evidence satisfactory 

to Escrow Agent of the Commission's acceptance has not been presented to Escrow Agent, then 

Escrow Agent shall request from Customer a list of passenger names, addresses, deposit/fare 

amounts and other information needed to make refunds. On receipt of such list, Escrow Agent 
shall return all passage fares held in the Escrow Account as of the date of termination specified

in the notice to the passengers, excepting only amounts Customer is entitled to receive pursuant 

to the terms of this Agreement for cruises completed through the termination date specified in 

the notice, and all interest which shall be paid to Customer. Upon termination, Customer shall 

pay all costs and fees previously earned or incurred by Escrow Agent through the termination 

date.

19. Neither Customer nor Escrow Agent shall have the right to sell, pledge, hypothecate,

assign, transfer or encumber funds or assets in the Escrow Account except in accordance with the 

terms of this Agreement.

20. This Agreement is for the benefit of the parties hereto and, accordingly, each and every

provision hereof shall be enforceable by any or each or both of them. Additionally, this 

Agreement shall be enforceable by the Commission. However, this Agreement shall not be 

enforceable by any other party, person or entity whatsoever. 

21. (a) No amendments, modifications or other change in the terms of this Agreement shall

be effective for any purpose whatsoever unless agreed upon in writing by Escrow Agent and 

Customer and approved in writing by the Commission. 

(b) No party hereto may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written

consent of the other, and unless approved in writing by the Commission. The merger of 

Customer with another entity or the transfer of a controlling interest in the stock of Customer 

shall constitute an assignment hereunder for which prior written approval of the Commission is 

required, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. 

22. The foregoing provisions shall be binding upon undersigned, their assigns, successors

and personal representative.

23. The Commission shall have the right to inspect the books and records of the Escrow

Agent and those of Customer as related to the Escrow Account. In addition, the Commission 

shall have the right to seek copies of annual audited financial statements and other financial 

related information. 

24. All investments, securities and assets maintained under the Escrow Agreement will be

physically located in the United States.

25. Notices relating to this Agreement shall be sent to Customer at (address) and to Escrow

Agent at (address) or to such other address as any party hereto may hereafter designate in 

writing. Any communication sent to the Commission or its successor organization shall be sent 

to the following address: Bureau of Certification and Licensing, Federal Maritime Commission, 

800 North Capitol Street NW., Washington, DC 20573-0001. 

26. This agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be

deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same 

instrument. 
27. This Agreement is made and delivered in, and shall be construed in accordance with the

laws of the State ____ of without regard to the choice of law rules. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have each caused this Agreement to be 

executed on their behalf as of the date first above written.

By: ______________________________________________ 

Title: ______________________________________________ 

By: ______________________________________________ 

Title: ______________________________________________ 

EXHIBIT A 

ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated _______ by and between (Customer) and (Escrow Agent). 

Passenger Vessels Owned or Chartered

ANNEX 1 

RECOMPUTATION CERTIFICATE

To: Federal Maritime Commission

And To: (“Bank”)_______________________ 

The undersigned, the Controller of __________ hereby furnishes this Recomputation 

Certificate pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement dated ________, between the 

Customer and (“Bank”). Terms herein shall have the same definitions as those in such Escrow 

Agreement and Federal Maritime Commission regulations. 

I. Unearned Passenger Revenue as of (“Date”) was: $______

a. Additions to unearned Passenger Revenue since such date were:

1. Passenger Receipts: $______
2. Other (Specify) $______

3. Total Additions: $______

b. Reductions in Unearned Passenger Revenue since such date were:

1. Completed Cruises: $______

2. Refunds and Cancellations: $______

3. Other (Specify) $______

4. Total Reductions: $______

II. Unearned Passenger Revenue as of the date of this Recomputation Certificate is: $______

a. Excess Escrow Amount $______

III. Plus the Required Fixed Amount: $______

IV. Total Required in Escrow: $______
V. Current Balance in Escrow Account: $______

VI. Amount to be Deposited in Escrow Account: $______

VII. Amount of Escrow Account available to Operator: $______

VIII. I declare under penalty of perjury that the above information is true and correct.

 Dated: ______________ 

____________________________________ 

(Signature) 

Name: Title:

____________________________________ 

(Signature) 

Name: Title: