INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON CIVIL LIABILITY FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE 1969, PROTOCOL OF 1992 – (THE CIVIL LIABILITY CONVENTION)
Article VII requires the registered owners of a ship to maintain insurance or other financial security to cover their liability for pollution damage. The Convention applies to all sea-going vessels that carries oil in bulk as cargo, but only ships carrying more than 2,000 tons of oil are required to maintain insurance in respect of oil pollution damage. This entered into force in St. Kitts & Nevis on 7th October 2004.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON CIVIL LIABILITY FOR BUNKER OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE, 2001 – (THE BUNKERS CONVENTION)
Article 7 requires the registered owners of ships over 1,000 gross tonnage to maintain insurance or other financial security, such as the guarantee of a bank or similar financial institution, to cover the liability of the registered owner for pollution damage. This entered into force in St. Kitts & Nevis on 21st January 2010..
A list of P&I Clubs and Insurance Companies recognised by St Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry can be found here
CIVIL LIABILITY & BUNKER CLC INSURANCE CERTIFICATES
The common name for the above-mentioned insurance document is the Blue Card. Companies issuing these should note that it should be addressed to St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry.
Applications for CLCs for St. Kitts & Nevis ships should be made through the Maritime Registrar which processed the vessels registration or direct to SKANReg Head Office if registered directly.
Applicable Fees can be obtained from a Maritime Registrar or Head Office. Note: There is no Application Form.
The request for issuance of a CLC or Bunker CLC Certificate should include the following information:
- Name of Ship
- Offical Number
- IMO Ship Identification Number and
- Name and full address of the principal place of business of the registered owner and manager.
- Blue Card confirming that the ship is covered by insurance complying with the requirements of the respective Convention. This MUST mention which Convention the Blue Card refers to.
- P&I insurance groups
The original Blue Card must be submitted during the application. This is to be a legible, full colour scanned version if the application is made electronically, sent by the issuing company or if it is sent by someone else, verification should be easily possible from the issuing company, e.g. via website.
Note: St. Kitts & Nevis will not issue a CLC unless they are satisfied as to the validity of the Blue Card.
We aim to issue a CLC within 1 working day of receipt of a correct application, including receipt of payment and verification of the Blue Card.
CRITERIA FOR RECOGNISING A P&I CLUB OR INSURER TO ISSUE BLUE CARDS
Insurers/P&I Clubs who are not currently on our recognised list and who are issuing Blue Cards for use by other Administrations, may apply to be included in such a list on submission of the following:
- List of the countries for which they are currently issuing Blue Cards including submitting examples of Blue Cards issued for at least three other Administrations
- Evidence of payment of claims for third party damage or oil pollution damage within the previous 24 months.
We may also ask for some form of bank guarantee or other evidence of financial credit worthiness. Insurers/P+I Clubs applying may wish to supply this with their application.
We refer you to the IMO Circular 3464
BUNKER CLCS FOR A NON-PARTY STATE
According to the terms of the Convention St. Kitts & Nevis may issue CLCs to the ships of non-Party States.
A non-party state means an IMO member state which has not ratified a convention. In such cases, the application process is as above, plus a legible copy of the Certificate of Registry of the ship is to be submitted.