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") 13 January 2010 No.09-012 We refer to our previous circular No.09-004 dated 17 July 2009 titled "Third EU Maritime Safety Package". Members have previously been advised that the legislative dossiers that constitute the Third EU Maritime Safety Package (3rd MSP) entered into force on 17 June 2009, although they will not have effect in EU Member States until they have either been implemented into the domestic law of Member States (where the legislation has been agreed in the form of a Directive) or their agreed application date has passed (where the legislation has been agreed in the form of a Regulation). The Insurance Directive is one of the eight Regulations and Directives that collectively make up the 3rd MSP and is of direct interest to the International Group of P&I Clubs (the IG). It 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. Initial discussions with a number of EU Member States indicate that they will enforce the Directive through Port State Control and will accept a standard P&I certificate of entry carried on board ships of 300gt or more as evidence that the necessary insurance cover is in place under the Directive. The IG is continuing discussions with other EU Member States to ensure that they follow the same approach and that the Directive is implemented in a uniform manner across the EU. The Directive requires that the certificates issued by the insuran