Directive 2009/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the Insurance of Shipowners for Maritime Claims ("Insurance Directive")（No.2） 15 December 2011 No.11-017 Members have previously been advised that EU Member States are required to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the EU Insurance Directive before 1 January 2012. The Insurance Directive requires shipowners of ships having a gross tonnage (gt) of 300 or greater to maintain insurance to cover maritime claims subject to limitation under the Protocol of 1996 to Amend the International Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC Protocol) and up to the relevant maximum limits laid down in it. The Directive requires that this cover is evidenced by a certificate or certificates of insurance when entering an EU port, or flying the flag of a Member State. 'Insurance' is defined in the Directive itself as "insurance with or without deductibles, and comprises, for example, indemnity insurance of the type currently provided by members of the International Group of P&I Clubs, and other effective forms of insurance (including proved self insurance) and financial security offering similar conditions of cover." The IG has liaised with each EU Member State to determine whether they will accept an IG Club issued certificate of entry as evidence of compliance with the Directive for both Port State and Flag State purposes. The Directive requires that the certificates issued by the insurance provider shall include the following information: (a) name of ship, its IMO number, and port of registry;  (b) shipowner's name and principal place of business;  (c) type and duration of the insurance;  (d) name and principal place of business of the provider of the insurance and, where appropriate, the place of business where the insurance is e stablished. This information is already contained in the certificates of