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The Regulation requires that this cover is evidenced by a certificate or certificates of insurance when entering a Turkish port and that such a certificate(s) should be present on board the ship. Following consultation between the International Group and the Turkish Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs, it is understood that Turkish ports will accept a certificate of entry issued by International Group Clubs in an electronic format as evidence of compliance with the Insurance Regulation. Upon request of the relevant competent authorities, ships bound for ports or offshore terminals in Turkish waters should submit a copy of their certificate of entry to the nearest port authority, through an agent domiciled in Turkish waters, before entering Turkish territorial waters. The Turkish administration has established a “Port Management Information System (LYBS)” to allow ships’ agents to submit the necessary details to the port authorities as part of the procedure for obtaining clearance to enter port, in order to facilitate compliance with the Insurance Regulation. Port authorities will not issue permits for docking, mooring or anchoring until a certificate of entry has been provided and the Regulation has been complied with. A breach of the Regulation may be subject to a fine of between 500 and 20,000 Turkish Lira (approximately US$300 – US$11, 600 on current exchange rates). The Insurance Regulation is modelled very closely on European Directive 2009/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the Insurance of Shipowners for Maritime Claims (the “Directive” - click here for the full text of the Directive). For guidance on the Directive, Members are referred to the Circular issued on 15 December 2009 (which is available on the Club’s website but click here for ease of reference). The London Steam-Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association Limited, press release |
New Turkish Insurance Regulation Requiring Ships to Evidence P&I Cover