Time has come to apply for renewal of CLC, Bunker, Athens and Wreck Removal Convention certificates from the Danish Maritime Authority. Shipowners must renew their certificates once a year upon expiry of the underlying insurance.
Shipowners should apply to the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) for renewal of their certificates well before 20 February 2023. Only ships with valid certificates are allowed to operate.
Shipowner applications for DMA certificates are typically based on insurance declarations (Blue Cards) issued by insurers from the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG).
Every year many IG Blue Cards expire at the end of the maritime insurance year on 20 February, and the same goes for DMA certificates based on these IG Blue Cards. Shipowner submission of applications as early as possible before 20 February 2023 would therefore significantly facilitate timely DMA renewal of obsolete certificates.
DMA has preapproved IG insurers and their Blue Cards until further notice. In contrast to this, DMA needs to reapprove non-IG insures and their Blue Cards once a year.
Occasionally, the reapproval process may take some time in certain cases. Shipowners with Blue Cards from non-IG insurers should therefore apply for renewal of their certificates in good time, too.
The Danish Maritime Authority accepts electronic Blue Cards from approved insurance companies and issues electronic insurance certificates for ships meeting the requirements for their issuance.
CLC Certificates
CLC Certificates concern insurance to cover liability for oil pollution damage. Danish ships carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of resistant mineral oil with carbon hydrids in bulk as cargo must acquire the certificate.
Foreign ships carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of oil in bulk as cargo also need a CLC Certificate if they call at a Danish port, place of loading or unloading or the Danish continental shelf area.
Bunker Certificates
Bunker Certificates concern insurance to cover liability for bunker oil pollution damage. Danish ships with a GT of 1,000 or more must acquire the certificate.
Foreign ships with a GT of 1,000 or more also need a Bunker Certificate if they intend to call at a Danish port, a Danish place of loading or unloading or the Danish continental shelf area, or if they are operating permanently in Danish territorial waters.
Athens Certificates
Athens Certificates concern insurance to cover passenger and luggage liability related to accidents occurring during commercial carriage of passengers by sea. Danish passenger ships in international trade and Danish passenger ships of classes A and B in national trade must acquire the certificate.
Foreign passenger ships also need Athens Certificates if they intend to call at a Danish port, place of loading or unloading or continental shelf area. That also goes for foreign class A and B passenger ships in national trade in Danish territorial waters.
Wreck Removal Certificates (WRC Certificates)
WRC Certificates concern insurance to cover liability for the location, marking and removal of wrecks. Danish ships with a GT of 300 or more need a certificate.
Foreign ships with a GT of 300 or more also need a certificate if they intend to call at or depart from a Danish port or an offshore installation in Danish territorial waters.
