Answer
The Bunker Certificate (officially titled Certificate of Insurance or Other Financial Security in Respect of Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) is a mandatory statutory certificate issued under the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention 2001).
Purpose & Applicability
- Applicability: Applies to all commercial ships over 1,000 Gross Tonnage (GT) registered in or entering the ports/offshore facilities of a State Party.
- Purpose: Ensures that shipowners maintain adequate insurance or financial security (typically a P&I Club Blue Card) to cover third-party pollution damage clean-up costs and compensation caused by spills of bunker oil (fuel oil, diesel, or lube oil).
Mandatory Contents of a Bunker Certificate
In accordance with Article 7 of the Bunker Convention, the certificate must contain the following statutory details:
- Ship Identification Details:
- Name of the ship.
- Distinctive number or letters (Call Sign).
- IMO Ship Identification Number.
- Port of Registry.
- Owner Details:
- Name and principal place of business of the registered owner.
- Insurance / Financial Security Details:
- Type of security provided (e.g., P&I Insurance Policy, Bank Guarantee).
- Name and principal place of business of the insurer or other person giving security (P&I Club).
- Certificate Validity Period:
- Start and expiration dates of the certificate (must match the validity period of the P&I Blue Card, typically renewing annually on 20 February).
- Issuing Authority:
- Name and seal/signature of the issuing Flag State Administration (or authorized recognized organization).