9 February 2015 TO ALL MEMBERS Dear Sirs The Entry into Force of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (‘WRC’) The Association’s Circulars dated 5 November and 23 December 2014, together with our News Alert of 19 January 2015 advised of the entry into force of the WRC and the related insurance requirements. Members are reminded that if a ship is flagged in a State Party or is calling at a port or offshore facility in a State Party, it is a requirement to obtain a certificate from a WRC State Party attesting that insurance or other financial security is in place in accordance with the Convention. * The WRC provides that with respect to a ship registered in a State Party, such certificate shall be issued or certified by the appropriate authority of the State of the ship’s registry. Ships registered 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. Further, set out below is an updated list of WRC States’ maritime authorities which have, as at the date of this Circular, agreed to issue certificates to ships flagged in countries that are not party to the Convention, subject to any conditions the relevant 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 to contact them directly for information on the procedures for application. At this time many of the State Parties would seem to be in the process of finalizing and publicizing their procedures. - 2 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 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399694/MSF3241 _REV0115.pdf 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. The DMA may issue certificates for other ships but this is normally the case only if an arrangement has been concluded between the DMA and the authorities of the ship’s flag state. Postal applications s