The UK P&I Club issued a number of updated questions and their answers about the bunker convention cerfiticates, to assist those interesed.
Below we have gathered some of the Q&As to provide information.
Who is liable under BC for pollution damage?
Shipowner (including the registered owner, bareboat charterer, manager and operator).
Which ships are required to have BC certificate of insurance (BC certificate)?
All ships over 1000 gt registered in a State party or entering or leaving a port in the territory of a State party.
Who is required to obtain a BC certificate of insurance?
The registered owner of a ship.
My ship flies the flag of a State where the Convention has been ratified but not yet come into force – do I have to obtain a BC certificate for it?
Yes. The Convention will come into force three months after the date of ratification. There is a risk that certificates issued by such a flag State will not be recognised as valid until the date the Convention comes into force. Members are recommended to obtain a certificate from a State where the Convention is already in force in order to ensure compliance during the abovementioned three month period. Club cover may otherwise be prejudiced if the vessel is detained or fined.
Which States have agreed to issue certificates to ships not flying their flag?
The Bahamas, Cook Islands, Jamaica, Liberia, Malta, Norway, Palau, Panama, UK (including Isle of Man), Cyprus and Germany (if the owner is located or economically connected there),are amongst the countries which will issue certificates to vessels registered in states which are not party to the Convention.
Can you summarise the steps to follow for us to obtain a BC Blue Cards/BC Certificate?
For ships registered in a State Party to the Convention, please follow the following steps:
- Complete the Blue Card Application Form;
- Return the completed form via email to [email protected], cc. to your usual underwriting contact;
- When we receive the completed application form from you, we will issue the Blue Card in electronic format to you for you to forward to your ship’s flag State authority who will in turn issue the Bunker Convention certificate to you. If the issuing authority does not accept an electronic
- Blue Card, a Blue Card in a hard copy format can be provided on request. The procedure for issuing certificates varies from State to State. You should contact your flag State authority for the procedure to apply for State-issued certificates.
For ships registered in States not party to the Convention, please follow the following steps:
- Complete the Blue Card Application Form;
- Return the completed form via email to [email protected], cc. to your usual underwriting contact.
- We will prepare the Blue Card upon receipt of your completed application form, and your instructions on which State Party you want the blue card to be addressed to. A few countries including The Bahamas, Cook Islands, Jamaica, Liberia, Malta, Norway, Palau, Panama, UK (including Isle of Man), Cyprus and Germany (if the owner is located or economically connected there), have confirmed that they will issue certificates to ships not registered in State Parties.
