News

Entry into Force of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (No.3)

10 February 2015 No. 14-020

Circular No.14-017 dated 24 December 2014 informed Members that the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (“WRC”) enters into force on 14 April 2015.


This additional circular provides a reminder to Members that if the vessel is flagged in a State Party or calling at a port or offshore facility in a State Party it is are quirement to obtain a certificate from a WRC State Party attesting that insurance or other financial security is in force in accordance with the Convention.


The WRC provides that certificates must be obtained from the State in which a ship is flagged, providing that State is party to the Convention. Ships flagged in countries that are not parties will need to obtain a certificate from a relevant authority in a State Party. There is a full list of signatory states at the end of this circular.


The following WRC States’ maritime authorities have on the date of publication of this circular agreed to issue certificates to ships flagged in countries that are not party to the Convention, subject to any conditions there levant authority may apply.


United Kingdom

Germany

Denmark

Marshall Islands

Liberia

Palau

Cook Islands

Malta


The International Group has been informed by the Merchant Shipping Directorate of Malta that the Convention will enter into force in Malta on the 14 April 2015 and therefore any certificates for Malta flagged vessels issued by virtue of the national legal instrument transposing the Convention will be valid as of 14 April 2015.


The Merchant Shipping Directorate has confirmed that owners of ships on the Malta ship register who have received WRC blue cards from their clubs and WRC certificates from other States Parties, prior to Malta’s accession to the WRC, will have such certificates respected for this policy year.


Certificate applications may be made to the following maritime authorities. Where the information is available addresses for applications are listed below. However, members should be aware that there are likely to be specific requirements for applications and they are recommended to check the website of the relevant authority or contact them directly for information on the procedures for application. At this time many of the State Parties would seem to be still in the process of finalising and publishing their procedures.






United Kingdom - Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Applications should be addressed to:

Mr T Cornish

Maritime and Coastguard Agency,

Spring Place,

105 Commercial Rd,

Southampton,

United Kingdom

SO15 1EG

Application form link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/e-application-for-uk-compulsory-insurance-certificate-msf-3241

Electronic applications to: CLC@Mcga.gov.uk



Germany

Postal applications should be addressed to:

Ms G Tungler

Bundesamt Für Seeschifffahrt Und Hydrographie (BSH)

S43 Bernhard – Nocht – Str. 78

20359 Hamburg

Germany



Denmark - Please note that the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) will issue certificates to Danish flagged ships, ships from the Faeroe Islands, ships calling at Danish ports after 14 April 2015 and ships operated by Danish companies. DMA may issue Certificates for other vessels but this is normally the case only if an arrangement has been concluded between the DMA and the authorities of the vessel's flag state.

Postal applications should be addressed to:

Danish Maritime Authority

Carl Jacobsens Vej 31

2500 Valby

Denmark

www.dma.dk

Electronic applications to:vragcertifikat@dma.dk



MarshallIslands– International Registries, Inc. will give priority to certificate applications from Marshall Islands flagged ships. Certificate applications should be addressed to:

Maritime Administrator for the Republic of the Marshall Islands

International Registries, Inc.

Attn: Vessel Administration

11495 Commerce Park Drive

Reston, Virginia 20191-1506

USA

www.register-iri.com



Liberia

For questions regarding Liberia’s implementation of the Convention and issuance of WRC certificates for Liberian and non-Liberian flagged vessels, please contact


Vessel Certificates

LISCR,

8619 Westwood Center Dr., Suite 300

Vienna, VA22182, USA

Main: +1 703790 3434  Fax: 703 790 5655

or email: vesselcertification@liscr.com

For Japanese members electronic applications can also be made to:


LISCR JAPAN KK

Shibakoen Plaza Bldg. 4FL6-9,Shiba3-Chome, Minato-Ku

Tokyo, 105-0014 Japan

Phone: +81-3-5419-7001 Email:CLC@liscr-japan.com

PIC: (For Liberian Vessels) Ms Nagasawa (ForNon-Liberian Vessels) Ms Morikawa



Palau

Full postal address for applications:


Palau International Ship Registry
16701 Greens point Park Drive, Suite 155
Houston, Texas, 77060
Phone: 281 876 9533

Electronic applications to technical@palaushipregistry.com

http://www.palaushipregistry.com/



Cook Islands

Full postal addresses for applications:

Maritime Cook Islands,

P.O. Box 882,

Rarotonga,

Cook Islands

Visit http://www.maritimecookislands.com/applying-for-nwrc-certificates.html for details on online applications.



Malta

Postal applications should be addressed to:


Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen

Merchant Shipping Directorate

Transport Malta

Xatt l-Għassara ta’ l-Għeneb

Malta Transport Centre

Marsa MRS 1917

Malta

Electronic applications to clcmalta.tm@transport.gov.mt



At the time of publication of this circular the following 16 States have acceded to the convention.


State Party

Accession date

Entry into force date

*Antigua and Barbuda

09/01/2015

14/04/2015

*Bulgaria

08/02/2012

14/04/2015

*Congo

19/05/2014

14/04/2015

*+Cook Islands

22/12/2014

14/04/2015

*+Denmark

14/04/2014

14/04/2015

+Germany

20/06/2013

14/04/2015

India

23/03/2011

14/04/2015

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

19/04/2011

14/04/2015

*+Liberia

08/01/2015

14/04/2015

Malaysia

28/11/2013

14/04/2015

*+Malta

18/01/2015

18/04/2015

*+Marshall Islands

27/10/2014

14/04/2015

Morocco

13/06/2013

14/04/2015

Nigeria

23/07/2009

14/04/2015

*+Palau

29/09/2011

14/04/2015

*+United Kingdom

30/11/2012

14/04/2015


*Denotes States that will apply the Convention in the territory

+Denotes States that will issue certificates to ships flagged in countries that are not party to the Convention, subject to any conditions there levant authority may apply.


All clubs in the International Group have issued similar circulars.