Ame rican Club Circula r No. 8/15 1 FEBRUARY 6, 2015 CIRCULAR NO. 08/15 TO MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION Dear Member: THE NAIROBI INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE REMOVAL OF WRECKS: AN UPDATE Circular No. 31/14 of November 4, 2014 informed Members that the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (WRC) enters into force on April 14, 2015. This Circular provides a reminder to Members that if a vessel is flagged in a State Party, or calling at a port or offshore facility in a State Party, it is a requirement that a certificate be obtained from a WRC State Party attesting that insurance or other financial security is in force in accordance with the Convention. The WRC provides that certificates must be obtained from the state in which a vessel is flagged, providing that State is party to the Convention. Vessels flagged 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. The following WRC States’ maritime authorities have, as of the date of publication of this Circular, agreed to issue certificates to vessels 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 April 14, 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 April 14, 2015. The Merchant Shipping Directorate has confirmed that owners of vessels 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 contact them directly for information on the procedures for application. At this time many of the State Parties would seem to be still in the process of finalizing and publishing their procedures. American Club Circular No. 8 /15 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 link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/39969 4/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 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. DMA may issue Certificates for other vessels but this is normally the case only if an arrangement has been concluded between the DMA and the authorities of the vessel's flag state. Postal applic