With the upcoming entrance into force of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks on 14th of April 2015, new regulations will be implemented affecting all signatory countries.
Among several provisions, the Convention is aimed at placing financial responsibility for the removal of certain hazardous wrecks on shipowners, making insurance, or some other form of financial security, compulsory.
The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) said that the Convention’s implementation will set a new springtime course calling Danish companies and shipowners to prepare for new insurance and certification requirements.
As explained, all Danish ships of or above 20 GT (gross tonnage) must take out insurance or other financial security to cover the owner’s liability in connection with the removal of wrecks. The ships must not engage in trade at all if such insurance or other financial security is not held. The regulations apply to all types of ships – not just merchant ships, but also fishing vessels, passenger ships and recreational craft.
Large ships of or above 300 GT must carry a certificate on board, certifying that they have the required insurance/financial security. If such a certificate is not carried on board, the ships must not engage in trade and are at risk of being detained – this is so in Denmark, Bulgaria, Congo, Cook Islands, India, Iran, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Nigeria, Palau, Great Britain and Germany.
The requirement to carry a certificate also applies to foreign ships of or above 300 GT calling at Danish ports or offshore installations in Danish territorial waters.
“The Danish Maritime Authority urges all owners of Danish ships of or above 20 GT to make sure that they have taken out valid insurance to cover their liability in connection with the removal of wrecks before 14 April 2015,” DMA said.
In addition, the Authority urged Danish shipowners with ships of or above 300 GT to forward applications for certificates to the DMA as soon as possible and well in advance of 14 April 2015 to avoid any problems.
Denmark became the 10th country to ratify the convention, thereby triggering its entry into force exactly this April.
Image: DMA