Commentary on Sections Section 255Q – Electronic certificates
38.Article 12(13) of the ICRW allows for the use of electronic insurance certificates, which would mean ships not being required to have an actual certificate of insurance when entering or leaving a port or arriving or leaving an offshore facility. To enable electronic certificates to be used in the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State would have to inform the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation that the United Kingdom maintains records in an electronic format, accessible to all State Parties, attesting to the existence of the certificate.
39.Should the Secretary of State decide at some time to allow electronic certificates then appropriate changes to Part 9A inserted by this Act may be made by order, subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.