Marine insurer issues reminder over Singapore wreck removal treaty

Treaty, which came into effect last week, requires proof of insurance covering shipwrecks

Marine insurer issues reminder over Singapore wreck removal treaty

Insurance News

By Gabriel Olano

Marine insurance provider Skuld has issued a statement reminding all members that Singapore has ratified the Wreck Removal Convention (WRC), which took effect on September 08.

“As members will be aware, the WRC requires, among other matters, owners of ships over 300 GT to have in place insurance to cover the costs of wreck removal. Skuld, like all the clubs within the International Group, has appropriate wreck removal cover available to their members,” the company announced.

Owners of ships docking at ports in states that are signatories to the WRC and require showing an insurance certificate, also known as the “Blue Card”, as a port entry requirement, are also required to carry a WRC State certificate as proof that they have adequate insurance cover.

As the treaty is already in effect in Singapore, all Singapore-registered vessels above 300 GT must have a WRC certificate alongside its insurance certificate. Vessels registered in states that are not part of the treaty but that wish to journey to countries that are part of the Convention must request a certificate from the relevant government agency.

Singapore-registered ships that already have WRC state certificates issued by other states do not need to apply for a WRC state certificate from the Maritime & Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore before their current certificate expires.

In August, the MPA issued a circular drawing attention to the approaching effectivity of the WRC in the country and outlining the procedures in applying for a WRC state certificate.


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