В соответствии со вступившей в действие Директивой 2009/20/ЕС Европейского парламента от 23 апреля 2009 года «О страховании судовладельцев в отношении морских требований», Секретариатом Турецкой Республики по морским делам были приняты Правила «О страховании и проверке судов в отношении морских претензий» («Правила»), вступившие в силу 1 июля 2011 года. Согласно этим Правилам, все суда, заходящие в порты Турецкой Республики после 01.07.2011, подвергаются проверкам со стороны портовых властей на предмет наличия страхового сертификата, подтверждающего страхование ответственности по морским требованиям. В случае отсутствия такого сертификата, суда не будут допускаться в порты Турции до тех пор, пока судовладелец не известит о наличии сертификата в соответствии с Правилами.
Which ships the Regulation applies on?
The vessels having a gross tonnage of 300 or greater flying under Turkish flag and regardless of the flag state, the vessels which are entering or leaving the port facility within the Turkish territorial waters are obliged to maintain P&I insurance to cover maritime claims subject to the limitation within the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 (“1976 Convention”) and the Protocol of 1996 to amend the 1976 Convention (“1996 Protocol”).
It is necessary to state that the Regulation does not apply on battleships, assisting battleships or vessels belonged to the government and used for public services and non-commercial purposes, or vessels operated by the government.
What is the amount of the limitation of liability?
The amount of the insurance for each and every vessel per incident shall be equal to the relevant maximum amount for the limitation of liability as laid down in the 1996 Protocol to the 1976 Convention.
The insurance policy must include at least two insurance coverages for separate coverage limits with regards to the field of death and injury matters and the other claims.
What are the obligations of the shipowners?
In accordance with the Article 6 of the Regulation, the obligations of the shipowners are indicated as follows:
| 1) Upon the demand of the competent authority, the vessels, which arrive to the port facility in the Turkish jurisdiction or which arrive to the place for the purpose of loading, discharging or anchoring within the Turkish territorial waters, shall provide a copy of their insurance policy to the nearest port authority or the port authority on their route through the agent located in Turkey prior to their entrance to the Turkish territorial waters. 2) Upon the demand of the competent authority, if the insurance policy of a vessel becomes invalid due to whatever reason, P&l insurance policy shall be renewed and 3) The port authorities are entitled not to give permission for docking, mooring and certificate of seaworthiness for vessels, which fail to comply with the obligation of the notification indicated under the Article 6. It has been indicated that the vessel should carry a valid P&I policy on board. What is capacity of the port authorities in relation to the inspection of the insurance policy? What is capacity of the port authorities in relation to the inspection of the insurance policy? In accordance with the Article 7[1] of the Regulation, it is set forth that the port authorities can inspect the vessel at any time so as to be aware of the insurance policy is carried on board and valid. The document, which is issued as a valid Certificate of Entry (“CoE”), is also accepted as the original insurance policy. Can the insurance policy be used in an electronic copy? If the policy is in the form of an electronic copy, confirmation should be obtained by the authorities from the website of the insurance company concerning the validity of the policy. If there is any concern as to the P&I policy, the confirmation should be taken from the local correspondent of the insurance company by the authorities. Moreover, the latest situation concerning the validity of the policy can also be checked and determined by contacting the persons in charge from the Undersecretariat. What are consequences for shipowner if the valid insurance policy is not kept on board? In accordance with the Article 7/III of the Regulation, if the insurance policy is not carried on board, the port authority may issue an order for the expulsion from the port facility. In this case, Undersecretariat and the related flag state country shall be notified. The port authorities can refuse entry of this vessel into the ports until the copy of the valid insurance policy is submitted by the shipowner. In which cases the penalty may be imposed by the relevant port authority? If shipowner breaches the obligation set forth in Article 6/II stating that if the insurance policy of a vessel being within the port facilities becomes invalid due to whatever reason, P&I insurance policy shall be renewed and shall be provided by the shipowner in accordance with the articles of the Regulation. A copy of the new insurance policy shall be provided to the nearest port authority before leaving the port facility and the Turkish territorial waters through the agent located in Turkey; If shipowner does not comply with the notification obligation about the insurance policy on board; If shipowner does not have a valid insurance policy. How often the inspection on board is executed? The existence of the P&I insurance policy is requested from every vessel, which is subject to the Regulations, before their entrance to the Turkish territory. If the vessel has no valid P&I insurance policy, she is prohibited to enter to the Turkish territory until the valid P&I insurance policy is submitted to the related authority. [1] Article 7 of the Regulation states as follows; “(1) The protection and indemnity insurance policy issued against the maritime claims must be on board. (2) The vessels, which are at the port facilities, may be at any time inspected by the port authorities on whether she has the insurance policy and whether it is valid. (3) In events there is no insurance policy of board, the port authority may issue an order for the expulsion from the port facility. In this case, the Undersecretariat and the related flag state country shall be notified. Additionally, the entrance request of this vessel may not be accepted until the shipowner submits the valid insurance policy.” 2 Article 7/III of the Regulation states as follows;”… (3) In events there is no insurance policy of board, the port authority may issue an order for the expulsion from the port facility. In this case, the Undersecretariat and the related flag state country shall be notified. Additionally, the entrance request of this vessel may not be accepted until the shipowner submits the valid insurance policy.” О6 авторе: Селин Копарал. Юридическая компания «Гюр» (Gur Law Firm), партнер; Турция, г. Стамбул. Окончила правовой факультет Университета Башкент (Baskent Universitesi) г. Анкара в 2002 г. В 2003 г. получила степень магистра по управлению бизнеса, Университет Ишик (Isik Universitesi). С 2002 по 2007 г. работала в юридической компании «Гюр» (Gur Law Firm). С 2007 по 2009 г. работала в юридической компании «Пекин & Баяр» (Pekin & Bayar Law Firm). С 2009 г. работает в юридической компании «Гюр» (Gur Law Firm). Является партнером компании. Источник: Морское страхование. – 2012. – № 1. – С. 68 – 70. |