The Entry into Force of the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (WRC)

As reported in the Association’s circulars of 5 November and 23 December 2014, the WRC enters into force on 14 April 2015.

The 23 December circular (which can be accessed by clicking here) included information on the WRC States that had, at that date, agreed in principle to assist shipowners by issuing certificates to ships flagged in countries that are not party to the Convention. In addition to the four such WRC States referred to in the circular (UK, Germany, Denmark and Marshall Islands), Liberia and the Cook Islands have now agreed to issue WRC certificates to ships flagged in a State which has not ratified the Convention. 

The 23 December 2014 circular also included details of the contracting States to the WRC as at that date.  Since then the Convention has also been ratified by Liberia and Antigua & Barbuda. Ships flying the flags of a State which is party to the Convention should obtain their WRC certificates from their own registry.  The updated list of current contracting States is shown below: 

Wreck Removal Convention States**

Antigua & Barbuda*
Bulgaria*
Cook Islands
Congo
Denmark*
Germany
India
Iran
Liberia*
Malaysia
Marshall Islands*
Morocco
Nigeria
Palau
UK*

*denotes that the State Party has extended the application of the Convention to wrecks located within its territory, including the territorial sea.
**at 19 January 2015