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.
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Download electronic email ‘application form for a UK compulsory insurance certificate - MSF 3241 rev12.20’
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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.
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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.
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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
- credit or debit card - Please use your card to pay using gov.UK pay
- MCA rolling credit account
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
Updates to this page
Last updated 29 January 2021 + show all updates
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Updated delivery charges to £35:00
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Change to payment methods
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Amend the payment details for credit and debit cards
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Updated countries and dates.
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Amended service level agreement
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Price of Bunker and Tanker certificates has increased from £16 to £31.
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The bunker and tanker overview has been updated.
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Updated text
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Updated text
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Updated list of signatories
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updated link
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bank details change
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updated office and courier cost
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Updated certificate issuance time
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Cayman Islands added to exclusions on Wreck Removal Convention List
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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.
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The MCA is not able to issue Wreck Removal convention certificates to China from 11 February 2017.
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Cancelled certificates section added and Finland Wreck accession added
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Countries added and deleted from exemption lists
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Updated flag states we can issue certificates to
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Updated contact number for CLC Enquiries
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Added St Kitts and Nevis to Wreck Convention and Fiji to Bunker Convention - dates indicate when we can no longer issue certificates
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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.
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Updated to include Wreck Removal certificates no longer issued to - Netherlands from 19 April 2016 and France 4 May 2016
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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.
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Updated: MSF 3241 rev 1115 e-application for UK compulsory insurance certificates
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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.
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Updated: UK Criteria for approval of insurers providing cover for civil liability certificates - Annex A & B
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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.
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UPDATE: Change to postal applications
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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.
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Update: Montenegro – From 9 December 2015
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Updates to Bunkers Convention, Tanker Convention and Wreck Removal states.
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No longer able to issue sections updated
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Update: Major delay on processing applications
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Amended date of application after which certificates cannot be guranteed for 14 April 2015.
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UPDATE - Processing delay of Wreck Removal applications.
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Advice about processing timescale added 14 March 2015
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Additional guidance concerning fees for Wreck Convention certificates added 9 February 2015.
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MCA is no longer able to issue Wreck Removal convention certificates to vessels flagged in Malta – from 18 April 2015.
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Details now provided for applications for NWRC – Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention 2007 certificates from 1 February 2015
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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.
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Updated for new M-Notices, revised form MSF 3241 and states for which certificates can no longer be issued
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First published.