Notice to Shipowners, Ship Operators and Managers, Masters, Owners’ representatives and recognised organisations

The Merchant Shipping Directorate would like to draw the attention of all concerned to the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Insurance for Maritime Claims) Regulations, 2011 published on the 16 December 2011, as Legal Notice 484 of 2011. The Regulations transpose Directive 2009/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009, on the insurance of shipowners for maritime claims and entered into force on 1 January 2012.

All shipowners are required to be properly insured against damage to third parties. The Regulations also stipulate the same level of cover as set in the International Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims in its 1996 version (LLMC 1996). Malta is party to the LLMC 1996 and transposed the Convention through the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims) Regulations, 2003. Furthermore, the Regulations provide that proof of insurance can be in the form of a commercial insurance certificate.

As from 1 January 2012, vessels that do not have in place an insurance cover as referred to above may be denied entry into European ports and may lead to detention of the vessel.

The electronic version of Legal Notice 484 of 2011 can be downloaded from:

http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/legalnotices/2011/12/LN%20484.pdf

For further details, contact us on:

Tel: (00356) 21 651387
Fax: (00356) 21 651384
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.combinedmaritime.com