After Japan acceded to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 and the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007, its ships have specific requirements to fulfill.
On 1 July 2020 the Government of Japan deposited its instrument of accession to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 and the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007. The conventions will enter into force for Japan 3 months after the date of the deposit, on 1 October 2020.
With effect from 1 October 2020, Japanese flagged ships to which the Bunker and Wreck Removal Conventions apply must apply to the relevant District Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for their Bunker Convention and Wreck Removal Convention certificates as well as CLC certificates (if applicable),
According to the Britannia P&I Club, Japanese flagged ships that have existing Bunker Convention and Wreck Removal Convention certificates issued by another Member state will not have to apply for new certificates and that their current certificates will remain valid until the expiry date.
