Civil Liability Certificates (CLC) for Oil Pollution Damage

Home International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1969, Protocol of 1992 - (The Civil Liability Convention)
The Convention – Article VII - requires the registered owners of ships covered by it to maintain insurance or other financial security to cover their liability for pollution damage. The Convention applies to all seagoing vessels actually carrying 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)
The 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.

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’ at the address at the head of this Maritime Circular.

Applications for CLC’s for St. Kitts & Nevis ships should be made through a Maritime Registrar or direct to SKANReg Head Office. Applicable Fees can be obtained from a Maritime Registrar or Head Office. There is no Application Form, The application can be made by post or electronically. The application should include the following information:

  1. Name of Ship
  2. Offical Number
  3. IMO Ship Identification Number and
  4. Name and full address of the principal place of business of the registered owner and manager.
  5. 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.

List of P+I and Insurers

Please click here for the list of P+I and insurers.

The original Blue Card must accompany 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. 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.

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. 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.

Bunker CLCs issued to St. Kitts & Nevis ships by another State Party before 21st January 2010 are recognised for the duration of their validity.