American Club Circular No. 3 7/14 1 DECEMBER 19, 2014 CIRCULAR NO. 37/14 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. Article 12 of the WRC provides as follows: “the registered owner of a ship of 300 gross tonnage and above and flying the flag of a State Party shall be required to maintain insurance or other financial security, such as a guarantee of a bank or similar institution, to cover liability under this Convention in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime, but in all cases not exceeding an amount calculated in accordance with article 6(1)(b) of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, as amended”. It is also a requirement to obtain a certificate from a WRC State Party attesting to such insurance. All International Group Clubs have agreed to issue Blue Cards so that Members may apply for a WRC certificate. Certificates must be obtained from the State in which a ship is flagged, provided that the State is party to the Convention. Ships flagged in countries that are not parties will need to obtain a certificate from a relevant authority in a State Party. Your Managers understand that, following consultation with the International Group, the following four WRC States’ maritime authorities have agreed in principle to facilitate the smooth entry into force of the Convention and assist shipowners by issuing certificates to ships flagged in countries that are not party to the Convention, subject to any conditions the relevant authority may apply. While web links have been provided to the websites of the relevant authorities, only Germany has published specific information about applications for WRC certificates. Members should therefore be aware that these authorities may not yet have finalized their internal procedures. United Kingdom The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will prioritize CLC, Bunker and Athens Convention certificate renewal applications followed by new WRC certificate applications submitted by UK registered vessels; then existing MCA customers and vessels calling at UK ports; and then vessels flagged in third countries, subject to the MCA’s capacity to process applications. The MCA has advised that due to expected large volumes of applications there may be delays in processing WRC certificates. Applications should be addressed to: American Club Circular No. 3 7/14 2 Mr T Cornish Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Rd, Southampton, United Kingdom SO15 1EG www.mca.gov.uk Germany BSH (Germany’s certificate issuing authority) has advised the International Group that they will give priority to certificates required by German flagged ships, ships calling at German ports and ships operated by German companies. In addition they will prioritize CLC, Bunker and Athens Convention renewal certificates. WRC certificate applications can be submitted at any time between the date of this circular and the convention’s entry into force date of April 14, 2015. The BSH expect a large number of applications and there may be some delay in issuing certificates. Postal applications should be addressed to: Ms G Tungler Bundesamt Für Seeschifffahrt Und Hydrographie (BSH) S43 Bernhard – N