Entry into Force of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (No.2) 24 December 2014 No. 14-017 Download PDF (204KB) Circular  No.14-010  dated 11 November 2014  informed Members that the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (“WRC”) enters into force on 14 April 2015.  Pursuant to Article 12 of the WRC which provides “the registered owner  of a ship of 300 gross tonnage and above and flying the flag of a State Party shall be required to maintain insurance or other financial security, such as a guarantee of a bank or similar institution, to cover liability under this Convention in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime, but in all cases not exceeding an amount calculated in accordance with article 6(1)(b) of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, as amended”. It is also a requirement to obtain a certificate from a WRC State Party attesting to such insurance. All International Group Clubs have agreed to issue Blue Cards so that Members may apply for a WRC certificate.   Certificates must be obtained from the State in which a ship is flagged, providing the 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.  The Club understands that, following consultation with the International Group, the following four WRC States’ maritime authorities have on the date of publication of this circular agreed in principle to facilitate the smooth entry into force of the Convention and assist shipowners by issuing certificates to ships flagged in countries that are not party to the Convention, subject to any conditions the relevant authority may apply.  While web links have been provided to the websites of the relevant authorities, only Germany has published specific information about applications for W