Dear Sirs Entry into force of the Bunkers Convention – update on State certification requirements and issuance of Blue Cards Members have previously been advised that the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution 2001 (the “Bunkers Convention”) will enter into force in States Parties (updated list below) on 21 November 2008. As already notified, Clubs in the International Group have agreed to issue the required Bunkers Convention Blue Cards to enable States Parties to issue certificates. State certification (i) Ships registered in States Parties Ships registered in a State Party need only obtain a State certificate from that State. This will be treated as evidence of insurance when calling at any port or terminal in any State Party. The State certificate will be issued against the provision of a Blue Card issued by the Club in the required form (see below). Members with Ships registered in a State Party are also recommended to contact the authorities in that State in order to confirm the application procedures for Bunkers Convention certificates. (ii) Ships registered in a State not party to the Convention Ships registered in a State which is not party to the Convention must obtain a State issued certificate from a State Party to the Convention. The Secretariat of the International Group and the International Chamber of Shipping have been in contact with the administrations in a number of States Parties to identify those States willing to issue certificates for ships which are not registered under their flag. The International Group has also submitted papers to the March and June sessions of the IOPC Funds to raise awareness of the need for States Parties to agree to issue the certificates to ships registered in States not party to the Convention. States are, to date, reluctant to agree to issue certificates for ships registered in States not party to the Convention unless calling at their ports because of the administrative burden involved in issuing the necessary, and large, number of certificates involved. The International Group and the International Chamber of Shipping are continuing discussions with a number of States Parties to seek agreement that they will issue the certificates to all ships having a gross tonnage greater than 1000 as soon as possible irrespective of whether they are The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited Managers Tindall Riley (Britannia) Limited New City Court 20 St Thomas Street London SE1 9RR Tel +44 (0)20 7407 3588 Fax +44 (0)20 7403 3942 www.britanniapandi.com The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited Registered Office: New City Court, 20 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RR Registered number 10340 England Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority July 2008 TO ALL MEMBERS OF CLASS 3 PROTECTION AND INDEMNITY TO ALL MEMBERS OF CLASS 6 FREIGHT, DEMURRAGE AND DEFENCE p.t.o. 18222_BunkersConvention r2:Layout 1 21/7/08 09:35 Page 1 calling at their ports after the entry into force of the Convention. Until these discussions are concluded and a satisfactory outcome is reached, it will not be possible for the Club to issue Blue Cards to ships registered in a State not party to the Convention since the Blue Card is required to be addressed to a State Party that is willing to issue the certificates for such ships. Members will be kept informed of progress in these discussions. Issuance of Blue Cards To comply with the Bunkers Convention requiremen