All Norwegian ships of 300 gross tonnage and above will soon have to have a Wreck Removal Certificate (WRC).
A Wreck Removal Certificate is a certificate for ships of 300 gross tonnage and above. It confirms that the ship has approved insurance or other security covering the costs of locating, marking and removing wrecks pursuant to the rules of the Nairobi Convention. It applies both for ships engaged on domestic and international voyages.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority is now processing applications and encourages those required to obtain a Wreck Removal Certificate to apply promptly, no later than 11 February.
Certificates will be issued as soon as they are ready, with the earliest date being 11 February 2025. If you require a certificate valid before this date, for instance, for international voyages, you must obtain it from another Convention State, such as Denmark.
Applicable Norwegian ships without a WRC
Ships insured under policies valid from 1 January to 31 December will need a Wreck Removal Certificate covering the period 11 February to 31 December 2025.
Some insurance companies operate on a policy year that begins on 20 February and runs for one year. In these cases, a WRC will be issued for two periods: one covering 11 February to 20 February 2025, and another covering 20 February 2025 and 20 February 2026. However, only a single fee will be charged.
Applicable Norwegian ships with a WRC issued by another Convention State
If a ship requires renewal or modification of its Wreck Removal Certificate after 11 February 2025, the application must be submitted to the Norwegian Maritime Authority.
Ships already holding a Wreck Removal Certificate due to voyages to countries that have previously ratified the Convention may continue operating under their existing certificates issued by other countries.
This remains valid until the current certificate expires or becomes otherwise invalid.
