Guidance

Certificate of proof of civil, passenger, other liability insurance

How ship owners, brokers and operators can apply to MCA for passenger, bunker, tanker and wreck removal compulsory liability insurance certificates

The MCA uses personal information we collect about you when you apply for a certificate of insurance or other financial security in respect of one of the international maritime organisations conventions regarding compulsory insurance for a vessel or vessels.

To find out more about how the MCA look after personal data, your rights and how to contacts our data protection officer please go to the MCA personal information charter page.

Compulsory insurance certificates overview

UK ships and ships coming to or from the UK, or other state party, must have flag state certificates to prove that they have the relevant compulsory civil liability insurance against oil pollution. This applies to:

  • bunker oil for ships over 1,000GT using oil as fuel - refer to ‘Oil pollution: liability and compulsory insurance for bunker oil (MGN 507)’
  • tanker oil for ships carrying over 2,000 tonnes of oil cargo - refer to ‘Oil pollution: liability and compulsory insurance (MGN 508)’

MCA is no longer able to issue bunker civil liability certificates to vessels flagged in the following states from the dates shown:

  • Belarus – from 5 December 2019
  • Faroes – from 9 January 2019
  • Gabon – from 17 July 2019
  • Guyana – from 20 May 2019
  • Saudi Arabia – from 29 January 2019
  • Seychelles – from 23 November 2019

The same applies to tanker civil liability certificates for:

  • Gabon - from 30 October 2020
  • Guyana – from 20 February 2020
  • Honduras - from 26 June 2020

Passengers and luggage (PAL) insurance overview

Vessels licensed to carry more than 12 passengers must have passenger liability (PAL) insurance in the event of accidents.

UK passenger vessels on international voyages must have a certificate issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to show that insurance is in place.

Passenger vessels not registered in a state party to the 2002 Athens Protocol or an EU/EEA state may also apply to the MCA to get a PAL insurance certificate.

You’ll need to provide evidence of both ‘war risks’ and ‘non-war risks’ insurance when you apply.

MCA is no longer able to issue Passenger and Luggage liability insurance certificates to vessels flagged in the following states from the dates shown

  • Georgia – from 22 August 2019
  • Madagascar – from 26 October 2019
  • Russian Federation – from 16 April 2019

Wreck Removal insurance overview

UK ships and ships coming to or from the UK, or other state party, must have flag state certificates to prove that they have the relevant compulsory liability insurance for the locating, marking and removing of wrecks. This applies to all vessels over 300 GT; see MIN 499 (see link below) for the definition of a vessel with regard to the Wreck Removal Convention.

The Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention 2007 (NWRC 2007) came into force on the 14 April 2015. The MCA was able to issue certificates on behalf of the United Kingdom from this date.

The MCA are prepared to accept applications from non-state parties, however priority will be given to applications for UK flagged vessels, and each application is considered on a case by case basis. Application forms can now be downloaded using the link below.

The MCA is not able to issue Wreck Removal convention certificates to vessels flagged in the following states from the dates shown:

  • Belarus – from 5 December 2019
  • Canada – from 30 July 2019
  • Gabon – from 17 July 2019
  • Guyana – from 20 May 2019
  • Madagascar – from 26 October 2019
  • Saudi Arabia – 18 October 2019
  • Sierra Leone - 22 February 2020

Find more information in the Marine information note; Wreck Removal: Liability and Compulsory Insurance for the locating, marking and removing of wrecks MIN 499.

Application form

Apply for all or any of 4 certificates using one email application form. The 4 types of certificate are:

  • BCLC - Bunker Convention 2001
  • CLC - Civil Liability Convention 1992 (Tankers)
  • PAL - Athens Protocol 2002 and Regulation (EC) 392/2009
  • NWRC - Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention 2007

You can use the electronic form to apply for up to 33 certificates at a time.

Please complete one row for each Blue Card.

If your insurer is not listed in the drop down list, please select “other” and provide more details in the comments field. Insurer details are required for the MCA to check if your insurer meets our requirements. This may cause some delay to your application. Please see “unknown insurers” below.

The form can also calculate the fee required if you enter the relevant data. You can opt to pay by various methods.

  1. Download electronic email ‘application form for a UK compulsory insurance certificate - MSF 3241 rev12.20’

  2. Complete all three pages of the form on your computer. Click the “submit via email” button. The form will convert the data into an XML file.

  3. Follow the prompts in order to attach the XML file to an email. Please also attach your Blue Cards, and any other supporting documents to this email.

  4. Email your XML application and any supporting documents to CLCApplications@mcga.gov.uk.

Once the MCA have received your application you will receive an email confirming receipt. We will then upload your application to our database, at which point you will receive a second email confirming your application number.

The MCA will aim to process your application as fast and accurately as we possibly can.

Certificate fees

Passenger liability certificates, Wreck Removal liability certificates, Bunker and Tanker certificates cost £31 each.

Additional delivery charges may apply - see below.

Please note, certificates will not be issued until payment has been received.

Delivery charges

The certificate fees include delivery by Royal Mail either:

  • recorded / signed for if delivered in UK
  • international / signed for if delivered outside UK (where available)

MCA only accepts responsibility for packages sent by courier delivery. This is recommended for addresses outside of Western Europe.

Courier fees are £35.00 for each delivery. Only one delivery charge applies when more than one certificate is couriered in the same package.

MCA isn’t responsible for any delays during shipment whichever delivery method is used.

Payment methods

Payment must be made in full before certificates will be released. However, do not send payment until you have received the application number, which must be quoted in any payment.

You can pay by any of the following methods

MCA doesn’t issue invoices unless you ask for this in writing or by email.

Please e-mail CLCFinance@mcga.gov.uk if you require an invoice or if you have any queries regarding your payment.

Unknown Insurers

If your insurer is not listed in the drop down field in section 10 of the application form, you may still apply for certificates from the MCA, but before we can issue these certificates your insurer will need to provide us with evidence that they fulfil our criteria.

Cancelled certificates

Each liability convention allows an insurer to cancel their cover of a vessel’s insurance by providing a set amount of notice to the issuing authority. Once notice is received that an insurer wishes to cancel their insurance for a vessel, the MCA will request the return of the original certificate. Please click here to access a list of certificates where the cover has been cancelled but the certificate has not been returned to the MCA following our request. The reason that MCA publishes this list is to draw attention to certificates that have been cancelled but may otherwise appear valid.

Contact us

If you have any queries contact MCA’s CLC Branch.

Telephone: +44 (0) 203 90 85200

email: CLCEnquiries@mcga.gov.uk

Published 1 May 2014
Last updated 29 January 2021 + show all updates
  1. Updated delivery charges to £35:00

  2. Change to payment methods

  3. Amend the payment details for credit and debit cards

  4. Updated countries and dates.

  5. Amended service level agreement

  6. Price of Bunker and Tanker certificates has increased from £16 to £31.

  7. The bunker and tanker overview has been updated.

  8. Updated text

  9. Updated text

  10. Updated list of signatories

  11. updated link

  12. bank details change

  13. updated office and courier cost

  14. Updated certificate issuance time

  15. Cayman Islands added to exclusions on Wreck Removal Convention List

  16. Please note we are currently experiencing an increased number of applications due to the insurance renewal period. Any applications for non-UK registered vessels received on or after the 1st February 2017 are unlikely to be completed before the 20th February. If you require your certificates before the 20th February, we recommend you apply to another state party to the relevant convention.

  17. The MCA is not able to issue Wreck Removal convention certificates to China from 11 February 2017.

  18. Cancelled certificates section added and Finland Wreck accession added

  19. Countries added and deleted from exemption lists

  20. Updated flag states we can issue certificates to

  21. Updated contact number for CLC Enquiries

  22. Added St Kitts and Nevis to Wreck Convention and Fiji to Bunker Convention - dates indicate when we can no longer issue certificates

  23. Please note, our bank details have changed with effect from 18 March 2016 - if you have made payment to our CITIBANK account since that date, please contact us for guidance.

  24. Updated to include Wreck Removal certificates no longer issued to - Netherlands from 19 April 2016 and France 4 May 2016

  25. Updated - The MCA doesn’t issue invoices unless you ask for this in writing or by email. Please e-mail CLCFinance@mcga.gov.uk if you require an invoice or if you have any queries regarding your payment.

  26. Updated: MSF 3241 rev 1115 e-application for UK compulsory insurance certificates

  27. Update - It is recommended that you make your CLC applications in good time if you want to receive your certificates by the time they are due.

  28. Updated: UK Criteria for approval of insurers providing cover for civil liability certificates - Annex A & B

  29. UPDATE: From 1 November 2015 all applications must be made via email. Further guidance has been provided concerning Insurers who are not listed on the application form.

  30. UPDATE: Change to postal applications

  31. Updated: With effect from the 1st November 2015 please use our Email Application form, MSF 3241. See further updates to; Passengers and luggage (PAL) insurance overview & Wreck Removal insurance overview.

  32. Update: Montenegro – From 9 December 2015

  33. Updates to Bunkers Convention, Tanker Convention and Wreck Removal states.

  34. No longer able to issue sections updated

  35. Update: Major delay on processing applications

  36. Amended date of application after which certificates cannot be guranteed for 14 April 2015.

  37. UPDATE - Processing delay of Wreck Removal applications.

  38. Advice about processing timescale added 14 March 2015

  39. Additional guidance concerning fees for Wreck Convention certificates added 9 February 2015.

  40. MCA is no longer able to issue Wreck Removal convention certificates to vessels flagged in Malta – from 18 April 2015.

  41. Details now provided for applications for NWRC – Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention 2007 certificates from 1 February 2015

  42. Certificate of proof of civil, passenger or other liability insurance: document amendments due to the introduction of the Wreck Removal Convention (NWRC 2007) which is coming into force on the 14 April 2015.

  43. Updated for new M-Notices, revised form MSF 3241 and states for which certificates can no longer be issued

  44. First published.